Method of placing an order for photographic printing

ABSTRACT

In an image network system used for network print service which receives an order for printing or the like by using a communication network such as the Internet, there are provided a center server capable of providing service which is different depending upon points given to a customer according to an order track record, at a time of using the system, capable of suitably setting a storage capacity and a storage period of an image for a user without placing a burden on the user while importance is placed on an operational efficiency of the system, capable of allowing a user to upload images as many as possible in an album, and useful for prompting an order, and an image network system including the center server.

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No.13/447,804, filed Apr. 16, 2012, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 11/802,014, filed May 18, 2007, now abandoned,which claims priority from JP 2006-140148 and JP 2006-140704, both filedMay 19, 2006, and JP 2006-143092, filed May 23, 2006, each incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

The entire contents of the document cited in this specification areherein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a center server for placing an orderfor photograph printing which uses a communication network such as theInternet, and an image network system including the center server.

In recent years, digital cameras have rapidly gained in popularity.Communication networks such as the Internet have also come into wideuse.

An image shot with a digital camera is treated as digital image data.Thus, the image can be transmitted through the communication network,and various services have been proposed/deployed by using thecommunication network.

For example, JP 2005-49933 A discloses a system which enables, in anetwork photograph service for storing an image (image data) of aservice user in a server connected by using a communication network suchas the Internet and for publicly offering this image to a third party,the load on a service operator to be reduced by counting the image dataamount for each customer, changing service contents such as expirationdate or storage amount according to the user's state of use, and sendingan error message to inhibit further transfer/storage of images when theamount of image data exceeds the maximum storage amount irrespective ofwhether the image data is for an unordered image or an ordered image.

JP 2002-342741 A discloses a system of an digital album in which imagessent from service users by using the same communication network arestored/managed in a server on a user unit basis, and provided as andigital album through the network, and when nothing is transmitted fromusers for a predetermined period or longer, the images registered by theusers are deleted to enable effective use of a data storage area ofserver resources or the like.

Further, JP 2003-330763 A discloses an information processing system fordeleting images in a predetermined cycle. In the system, a storageperiod is set for an image at the time of uploading the image, and whenthe storage period has passed, the image whose storage period has passedis retrieved regularly by using a system timer in the server which ispreset, or the like, thereby deleting the corresponding image. Thissystem is capable of setting the conditions as to the storage periods ofimages by allowing a user to set predetermined starting points of thestorage periods, so images can be deleted effectively.

In addition, photofinishers deploy so-called network printing servicesin which the photofinishers obtain images shot by customers and printorder information using the communication network to create photographicprints having the images reproduced thereon according to the orderinformation, and provide the prints created according to the receivedorder to the customers by delivering them home or to designated shops.

In a commercial transaction in a virtual market using a conventionalcommunication network, a point system in which points are givenaccording to a commercial transaction record is deployed as shown in JP2002-259781 A. Such point system has been widely introduced even to thefield of photograph print ordering by network printing services.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the conventional point system described above, points which have beenaccumulated according to a commercial transaction record established bya customer in a virtual market on a network are converted into amonetary value, and the customer can use the monetary value inpurchasing another commodity product. In other words, the points aremerely worth a value of money.

Also, in the conventional network print service described above, imagestransmitted by users to a server are managed and stored as an album(i.e., digital album) for each user. In general, the storage period ofan image and the maximum storage capacity of the album are uniquely setby the system, and images can be stored in the album such that a sum ofthe data sizes of all the images for each user does not exceed themaximum storage capacity. Further, in a case where the maximum storagecapacity of the album is to be exceeded if a user additionally transmitsanother image so as to be stored in the album, an error message istransmitted in order to prohibit the user from transmitting the image.

The above-mentioned capacity management method does not allow a user tochoose the storage period and the maximum storage capacity for images inan album. Also, according to the system disclosed in JP 2003-330763 A, auser is allowed to set a starting point of the storage period, but isnot allowed to set the length of the storage period and the storagecapacity.

There exists service which allows a user to extend and to expand thestorage period and the storage capacity, respectively, with anadditional charge. In this case, however, a financial burden is placedupon the user.

Further, according to the above-mentioned capacity management method,the maximum storage capacity for images is uniformly set regardless ofthe order track record of an amount of orders of prints (e.g.,photographs) or the like achieved by each user. However, there is ademand for providing better service for a user who has placed a largenumber of orders, to thereby stimulate the placement of orders.

There is also a problem that in the case where a user is prohibited fromtransmitting an image due to an excess of the maximum storage capacityof the album, if the user is unskilled in operation, the user may not beable to store a new image without knowing how to transmit the image.

A first object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentionedproblems of the conventional techniques, and to stimulate placement oforders through the network print service by the following manner in anetwork print service which receives orders or the like by using acommunication network such as the Internet. That is, points accumulatedby a customer are not only converted into a monetary value but are alsoused for providing a wide range of services including providing acustomer having a larger number of accumulated points with more benefitsin terms of the use of the network print service system, therebyproviding better service to a customer having a better order trackrecord.

Specifically, in an image network system used for network print serviceor the like, the first object of the present invention is provide acenter server which employs a point system in which points accumulatedin accordance with an order track record are regarded as a credit valueof a client and the points thus accumulated can be used for receivingservice, and an image network system including the center server.

Further, a second object of the present invention to provide a centerserver of an image network system, in which a storage capacity and astorage period can be suitably set for a user while importance is placedon an operational efficiency of the system, and an image network systemincluding the center server.

Further, in an image network system used for network print service whichreceives an order or the like by using a communication network such asthe Internet, a third object of the present invention is to provide acenter server in which a user, in particular, a user who has placed alarge number of orders such as print, can upload images as many aspossible and which stimulates placement of orders; and an image networksystem including the center server. In addition, the third object of thepresent invention is to provide a center server which is easy to handleso as to allow a user to smoothly store a desired image in an album evenin a case where a maximum storage capacity is exceeded and is thusexcellent in operability; and an image network system including thecenter server.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned first object, according to afirst aspect of the present invention, there is provided a center serverfor an image network system, for receiving image data and an order froman order entry channel via a communication network, including:

an order reception function block receiving an order from the orderentry channel;

an image storage function block storing image data supplied from theorder entry channel according to a predetermined storage condition;

a capacity management function block managing a storage capacity for theimage data stored by the image storage function block on a customerbasis; and

a point management function block managing points which are given basedon the order placed by a customer on a customer basis,

wherein the point management function block changes the predeterminedstorage condition in the image storage function block based on a statusof points of each customer.

In the above center server, preferably, the point management functionblock causes the order entry channel to display choices for thepredetermined storage condition in the image storage function blockbased on the status of points of each customer, and changes thepredetermined storage condition according to a choice selected by thecustomer from among the choices displayed.

Further, preferably, the choices for the predetermined storage conditioninclude at least one of a setting change of a storage capacity and asetting change of a storage period, of the image data storable in theimage storage function block.

Further, preferably, the point management function block counts totalpoints by accumulating points that have been obtained by the customer ina predetermined period, and changes the predetermined storage conditionof the image data provided to the customer based on the total points.

Further, preferably, the point management function block automaticallychanges the predetermined storage condition in the image storagefunction block according to total points obtained by accumulating pointsthat have been obtained by the customer in a predetermined period.

In the above center server, preferably, the point management functionblock automatically changes the predetermined storage condition, so thatone of a change of a storage capacity, a change of a storage period, anda change of the storage capacity and the storage period is performed.Further, preferably, the point management function block automaticallyexpands the predetermined storage condition in the image storagefunction block when the total points reach a predetermined number.Further, preferably, the point management function block automaticallyexpands the predetermined storage condition, so that one of an expansionof a storage capacity, an extension of a storage period, and theexpansion of the storage capacity and the extension of the storageperiod is performed.

Further, preferably, the image storage function block stores image databased on a combination of a data amount and a storage period of theimage data stored, by using retention counts, one retention count of theretention counts being defined by assuming storage of image data havinga predetermined data amount in the image storage function block for apredetermined period. Further, preferably, the point management functionblock sets the predetermined storage condition in the image storagefunction block by converting the points of each customer into theretention counts and calculating a storage condition corresponding tothe number of the retention counts.

Further, preferably, when the image data is supplied from the orderentry channel, in a case where a storage capacity for the image data fora customer is insufficient, the capacity management function blocktransmits information indicating that the storage capacity for thecustomer is insufficient to the order reception function block; and theorder reception function block having received the informationindicating that the storage capacity for the customer is insufficientcauses the order entry channel to display thereon information oninsufficient storage capacity and choices for a process for securing astorage capacity.

Further, preferably, the choices displayed on the order entry channel bythe capacity management function block include a reselection of theimage data to be supplied to the image storage function block and adeletion of image data within the image storage function block; and in acase where the number of points of a customer is equal to or larger thana predetermined value, an expansion of the storage capacity of the imagestorage function block is further displayed as a choice.

Further, preferably, the image storage function block gives an orderidentifier to the image data supplied from the order entry channel andstores the image data, the order identifier identifying whether theimage data is an ordered image data which has been ordered before, or anunordered image data which has never been ordered; the order receptionfunction block receives an order of the image data supplied from theorder entry channel on a customer basis and manages the order; and thecapacity management function block obtains a total value of sizes of theunordered image data among the image data stored by the image storagefunction block based on the order identifier on a customer basis, andmanages whether or not the total value is within such a range as not toexceed a predetermined upper limit value.

Further, preferably, the order reception function block receives anorder of the image data supplied from the order entry channel on acustomer basis and manages the order; the capacity management functionblock obtains a total value of sizes of the image data stored by theimage storage function block on a customer basis, and manages whether ornot the total value is within such a range as not to exceed apredetermined upper limit value; and in a case where the capacitymanagement function block judges that the total value exceeds thepredetermined upper limit value, the capacity management function blocknotifies the order entry channel thereof and causes the order entrychannel to display thereon choices for a countermeasure for preventingthe total value from exceeding the predetermined upper limit value.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned second object, according to asecond aspect of the present invention, there is provided a centerserver for an image network system, for receiving image data and anorder from an order entry channel via a communication network,including:

an image storage function block storing image data supplied from theorder entry channel,

wherein the image storage function block stores the image data based ona combination of a data amount and a storage period of the image datastored, by using retention counts, one retention count of the retentioncounts being defined by assuming storage of image data having apredetermined data amount in the image storage function block for apredetermined period.

In the above center server, preferably, the image storage function blockincludes at least one condition selected from the group consisting of afirst condition of a large storage capacity with a short storage period,a second condition of a small storage capacity with a long storageperiod, and a third condition of storage of an image data designated bya customer for a period which is long in comparison with a normalstorage period, as a storage condition of image data, each of the firstcondition, the second condition, and the third condition using a samenumber of retention counts.

Further, preferably, the image storage function block is capable ofchanging setting of the storage capacity and the storage period within arange of the retention counts retained by the customer.

Further, preferably, the center server according to the presentinvention, further including: an order reception function blockreceiving an order of image data supplied from the order entry channelon a customer basis and managing the order; and a point managementfunction block managing points given to a customer based on the orderwhich is placed by a customer and is received by the order receptionfunction block, on a customer basis. Further, preferably, the imagestorage function block is capable of converting the points which isretained by the customer and is managed by the point management functionblock into retention counts, and storing image data in exchange of theretention counts.

Further, preferably, the center server, further including an extendedstorage image selection function block setting image data designated bya customer as an extended storage image data, wherein the image storagefunction block converts points of a customer into the retention counts,and sets a storage period which is obtained by adding an extendedstorage period calculated based on the number of the retention countsand a data amount of the extended storage image data to a normal storageperiod as a storage period of the extended storage image data set by theimage storage function block.

Further, preferably, when total points which are managed by the pointmanagement function block and are obtained by accumulating points thathave been obtained by the customer in a predetermined period reach apredetermined value, the image storage function block gives apredetermined number of retention counts to the customer, and resets astorage condition based on the predetermined number of retention counts.Further, preferably, the center server further including: a countsetting function block setting a part of the predetermined number ofretention counts given by the image storage function block to extendedretention counts serving as retention counts used for storage of theextended storage image data for an extended storage period, the extendedstorage image data being selected by the extended storage imageselection function block, wherein the image storage function block usesthe extended retention counts set by the count setting function block toset a storage period for the extended storage image data after apredetermined storage period.

Further, preferably, the image storage function block is capable ofconverting the retention counts retained by the customer into points ofthe customer.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned third object, according to athird aspect of the present invention, there is provided a center serverfor an image network system, for receiving image data and an order froman order entry channel via a communication network, including:

an image storage function block giving an order identifier to image datasupplied from the order entry channel and storing the image data, theorder identifier identifying whether the image data is ordered imagedata which has been ordered before or unordered image data which hasnever been ordered;

an order reception function block receiving an order of the image datasupplied from the order entry channel on a customer basis and managingthe order; and

a capacity management function block obtaining a total value of sizes ofthe unordered image data among the image data stored by the imagestorage function block based on the order identifier on a customerbasis, and managing whether or not the total value is within such arange as not to exceed a predetermined upper limit value.

Further, in the above center server, preferably, in a case where thecapacity management function block judges that the total value exceedsthe predetermined upper limit value, the capacity management functionblock notifies the order entry channel thereof and causes a displaydevice (e.g., display) which the order entry channel includes to displaythereon choices for a countermeasure for preventing the total value fromexceeding the predetermined upper limit value.

Further, preferably, the choices displayed on the order entry channelinclude at least one selected from the group consisting of a reselectionof image data to be supplied to the image storage function block, adeletion of unordered image data stored in the image storage functionblock, an order of the unordered image data stored in the image storagefunction block, an image size conversion of the unordered image datastored in the image storage function block, a compression of theunordered image data stored in the image storage function block, and afile format conversion of the unordered image data stored in the imagestorage function block.

Further, preferably, in a case where one of the choices displayed on theorder entry channel including at least one selected from the groupconsisting of the deletion of the unordered image data stored in theimage storage function block, the order of the unordered image datastored in the image storage function block, the image size conversion ofthe unordered image data stored in the image storage function block, thecompression of the unordered image data stored in the image storagefunction block, and the file format conversion of the unordered imagedata stored in the image storage function block, is selected, thecapacity management function block causes the order entry channel todisplay thumbnail images of the unordered image data stored in the imagestorage function block.

Further, preferably, the capacity management function block gives aprocess identifier indicating an executed process content to an imagedata on which one of the image size conversion, the compression, and thefile format conversion has been executed based on one of the choicesselected; and the capacity management function block causes the orderentry channel to display thereon the process content based on theprocess identifier when causing the order entry channel to display thethumbnail images.

Further, preferably, the capacity management function block causes theorder entry channel to display the thumbnail images of the unorderedimage data stored in the image storage function block in one of a filesize order and an order of date on which the unordered image data issupplied to the image storage function block.

Further, in the third aspect of the present invention, there is provideda center server for an image network system, for receiving image dataand an order from an order entry channel via a communication network,including:

an image storage function block storing image data supplied from theorder entry channel;

an order reception function block receiving an order of the image datasupplied from the order entry channel on a customer basis and managingthe order; and

a capacity management function block obtaining a total value of sizes ofthe image data stored by the image storage function block based on acustomer basis, and managing whether or not the total value is withinsuch a range as not to exceed a predetermined upper limit value,

wherein in a case where the capacity management function block judgesthat the total value exceeds the predetermined upper limit value, thecapacity management function block notifies the order entry channelthereof and causes the order entry channel to display thereon choicesfor a countermeasure for preventing the total value from exceeding thepredetermined upper limit value.

Further, preferably, the choices displayed on the order entry channelinclude at least one selected from the group consisting of a reselectionof the image data to be supplied to the image storage function block, adeletion of the image data stored in the image storage function block,an image size conversion of the image data stored in the image storagefunction block, a compression of the image data stored in the imagestorage function block, and a file format conversion of the image datastored in the image storage function block.

Further, preferably, the image storage function block stores image databased on a combination of a data amount and a storage period of theimage data stored, by using retention counts, one retention count of theretention counts being defined by assuming storage of image data havinga predetermined data amount in the image storage function block for apredetermined period.

Further, in the fourth aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an image network system including:

an order entry channel receiving an order from a customer andtransmitting order information and customer information of the order;and

any of the above center servers.

According to the present invention as described above, in the networkprint service for storing an image received from a customer through acommunication network such as the Internet, and receiving a print orderthereof or another such order to manufacture a corresponding product, anoptional service can be provided based on an order track record of thecustomer obtained thus far. Accordingly, it is possible to realize thecenter server that can provide a higher level of service to the customerwho has a good order track record, and an image network system includingthe center server.

Further, the image data can be expanded in its storage capacity andchanged in its storage period according to the order track record of acustomer. Accordingly, the customer with a better order track record isallowed to store more images for a longer period, which promotes thecustomer to place more orders through the network print service.Further, by setting the effective period during which a customer canreceive service, it is possible to provide a higher level of service toa customer who currently has a good order track record, which furtherpromotes a customer to place more orders.

Further, in a case of uploading an image to order, if the number ofpoints of a customer is equal to or larger than a predetermined value,expansion of the storage capacity for the image data can be selected asa measure to support the customer. Accordingly, a customer with a goodorder track record does not need to delete or reselect the image due tounexpected shortage of the capacity, and is allowed to upload a newimage at ease.

Further, to store the image in the center server, a user is caused toselect settings regarding storage thereof in the center server from theplurality of choices including a combination of the storage capacity andthe storage period. Accordingly, the user is allowed to store the imagein a desired manner.

Further, preferably, the choices are set so that a product of thestorage capacity and the storage period has a substantially constantvalue. Accordingly, whichever settings the user may select, the loadplaced on the center server is kept substantially constant, which canprovide a stable image network system.

Further, preferably, a user can change the storage capacity and thestorage period according to the data sizes of the images stored by theuser or the like within the range in which the product of the storagecapacity and the storage period does not exceed the upper limit set inthe center server. Thus, the user is allowed to store the images in adesired manner according to the storage conditions of the images.

Further, the order track record of the user is regarded as a credibilityof the user, and more choices for the settings regarding the storage aredisplayed based on the credibility of the user when a new image is to bestored in the center server. Accordingly, it is possible to provide ahigher level of service to the user having a high credibility andprevent the user having a low credibility from intentionally occupying aserver space.

Further, the center server and the image network system including thecenter server store images transmitted from the user in an digitalalbum, obtain a total value of data sizes of only unordered images amongthe images stored within the center server with ordered images excludedfrom, the data size of the album to be checked, perform capacitymanagement for the images within the center server based on whether ornot the total value exceeds a maximum storage capacity, and notify theuser of a data size that can be transmitted. Accordingly, the user isallowed to upload more images to the center server by placing a printorder thereof or another such order. This also promotes the user toorder the print or the like.

Further, when an image is to be uploaded to the center server, if thedata size exceeds the capacity, it is preferable to present the userwith a countermeasure for transmitting the image instead of merelyinhibiting the transmission of the image. Therefore, the user is allowedto select and execute the countermeasure on the spot and smoothly uploadthe desired image. Consequently, the user is allowed to smoothly storethe image into the album in a desired manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a system configuration of animage network system using a center server according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing rank judgment processing at a time oforder placement in a network center;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing processing for each rank at a time ofsign-in in the network center;

FIG. 4A is a diagram showing an example of a screen which is displayedon an order entry channel at the time of sign-in;

FIG. 4B is a diagram showing another example of the screen which isdisplayed on the order entry channel at the time of sign-in;

FIG. 4C is a diagram showing still another example of the screen whichis displayed on the order entry channel at the time of sign-in;

FIG. 5A is a graph showing an example of usage of points at a time ofoption processing;

FIG. 5B is a graph showing another example of the usage of points at thetime of option processing;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing for each choice in the optionprocessing at the network center;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing conversion and exchange processing intocounts in accordance with remaining points in the network center;

FIG. 8 is a graph showing an example of usage of counts at a time a rankof a member is raised;

FIG. 9A is a diagram showing an example of a screen which is displayedon the order entry channel at the time the rank of the member is raised;

FIG. 9B is a diagram showing another example of the screen which isdisplayed on the order entry channel at the time the rank of the memberis raised;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing processing for each rank at a time ofuploading an image in the network center;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen which is displayedon the order entry channel at the time of uploading an image;

FIG. 12 is an example of an image information table for managing imageinformation in the image network system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of an album setting screen whichis displayed on the order entry channel at a time of setting an album;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing in selecting apremium image;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a flow of capacity calculation processingfor each image format in selecting the premium image;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a flow of calculation processing on afirst day of premium storage, in selecting the premium image;

FIG. 17A is a graph showing an example of a state of an album inextending storage of the premium image using remaining points;

FIG. 17B is a graph showing another example of the state of the album inextending storage of the premium image using the remaining points;

FIG. 18 is a graph showing an example of the state of the album inextending storage of the premium image using retention counts;

FIG. 19 is a diagram schematically showing another example of a systemconfiguration of the image network system using the center serveraccording to the present invention;

FIG. 20 is an example of an image information table for managing imageinformation in the image network system shown in FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing processing at the time of uploading animage in the network center;

FIG. 22A is a diagram showing an example of a screen which is displayedon the order entry channel at a time of requesting uploading;

FIG. 22B is a diagram showing an example of a screen which is displayedon the order entry channel at a time of selecting an upload image;

FIG. 23A is a diagram showing an example of a screen which is displayedon the order entry channel when a capacity is overloaded at the time ofuploading an image; and

FIG. 23B is a diagram showing an example of a screen which is displayedon the order entry channel at a time of carrying out capacity overflowprocessing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A center sever of the present invention and an image network systemincluding the center server will be described in detail below accordingto preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 conceptually shows the configuration of the image network systemof the present invention using the center server of the presentinvention.

The image network system 10 of the shown example (hereinafter referredto as “network system 10”) deploys a so-called network printing service(online printing service) which includes receiving an order ofphotograph printing from a customer through a communication network suchas the Internet, and creating prints according to the order, and alsodeploys a so-called digital album service which includesstoring/managing an image (image data) transferred from the customer toenable image viewing.

In the present invention, there is no specific limitation on the formatof image data, and for example, image data in publicly known formatssuch as JPEG, RAW, TIFF, and EXIF can be used.

The network system 10 basically includes a network center 12 whichincludes the center server of the present invention and collectivelycontrols/manages the network system 10, an order entry channel 14 fromwhich the customer places an order for printing or other operation, alab system 16 owned by a photofinisher (hereinafter referred to as“lab”), and a retailer system 18 which serves as an intermediary betweenthe customer and the lab.

In the network system 10 of the shown example, the network center 12,the order entry channel 14, the lab system 16, and the retailer system18 are interconnected through a communication network such as theInternet. In the network system 10, the network center 12, the orderentry channel 14, and the retailer system 18 are interconnected througha communication network made public such as the Internet. However, onlythe lab system 16 may be connected to the network center 12 through adedicated communication line without being connected to the order entrychannel 14 or the retailer system 18.

In the shown example, to clearly show the configuration of the networksystem 10, the drawing was simplified to show only one each of threetypes of the order entry channel 14, the lab system 16, and the retailersystem 18. However, the present invention is not limited thereto.

Therefore, the network system 10 may include a plurality of lab systems16. Usually, the network system 10 includes a plurality of retailersystems 18. The retailer system 18 is not an indispensable system in thepresent invention.

The order entry channel 14 is a user terminal which enables reception ofa customer's printing order, and transfer of an image (uploading of theimage) to the network center 12.

In the network system 10 of the shown example, customers include membersregistered in the network system 10 and nonmembers not registeredtherein. In the network system 10 of the shown example, each of themembers necessarily belongs to any of the retailer systems 18.

The order entry channel 14 is basically configured by using a personalcomputer (hereinafter, called “PC”) of the customer connectable to thecommunication network, or a printing order terminal which is installedat a shop receiving printing orders and is connected to thecommunication network.

Examples of the order entry channel 14 include an order entry channelthat uses a web browser such as Internet Explorer™ from MicrosoftCorporation to access (connect with) the network center 12 (websitemanaged by the network center 12 and made public through thecommunication network), an order entry channel that uses an orderingfunction installed in an operating system of PC such as “Online PrintingWizard (OPW)” of Windows XP™ from Microsoft Corporation, an orderingfunction included in a general-purpose application such as “FinePixviewer” from FUJIFILM Corporation, an ordering function set in a websitewhich is made public through the communication network such as “MSN(Europe)” which is a website managed/nm by Microsoft Corporation, andthe like, and an order entry channel that uses order software which isdedicated order application (software) for ordering a product in thenetwork system 10.

One order entry channel 14 may of course correspond to one, or two ormore of the above examples.

The retailer system 18 serves as an intermediary between a customer anda lab, and includes, for example, a PC, a workstation (WS), or a serverdevice.

In the European photographic printing industry, there are intermediaryagents called retailers between customers and labs. A retailer makes acontract with a lab, and asks a retail shop such as a cosmetic store ora drugstore to set a printing order reception window. Upon reception ofa printing order from a customer, the retailer transfers the receivedprinting order to the lab. When necessary, the retailer receivesfinished prints from the lab and sends the prints to the shop having thedesignated reception window or customer's home. A lab is normallyassociated with a plurality of retailers. The lab receives customer'sprinting orders from the retailers to create prints.

In a distribution system of printing order/creation/reception, the labis a kind of background existence which the customer is unaware of. Thecustomer only contacts the retailer to order printing and to receivefinished prints.

The retailer system 18 serves as a retailer in the network system 10.For example, this retailer system 18 is owned by the above describedretailer.

As described above, the retailer system 18 is connected to the networkcenter 12, the order entry channel 14, and the lab system 16 through thecommunication network such as the Internet. The retailer system 18 makespublic a web screen for accessing the network center 12 from the orderentry channel 14 in the communication network (on the web).

The order entry channel 14 may access the network center 12 through theweb screen made public by the retailer, or may directly access thenetwork center 12 not through the web screen. Alternatively, theconfiguration may be such that the setting whether to access the networkcenter 12 through the web screen or not through the web screen isdetermined depending upon the type of the order entry channel 14 or theretailer.

By intervening the retailer system 18, in the network system 10 of thepresent invention, the customer can place an order for printing with afeeling of placing an order for printing with the retailer without beingaware of the network center 12 and the lab (lab system 16).

In the network system 10 of the present invention, the retailer system18 and the lab system 16 to be described later may be integrated intoone system.

The network center 12 controls the overall network system 10 and isconfigured by combining a PC, a WS, a network device, a server device,and a storage device, for example.

The network center 12 includes a database/file server (DB/FS) 12 a forsaving/managing images and various pieces of information such as imagessent from customers, member information, information on printing orders,and information for managing and operating the network system 10.

As conceptually shown in FIG. 1, the network center 12 includes a frontend 12 b (hereinafter, called “front end”) and a back end 12 c(hereinafter, called “back end”).

The front end is a site for receiving customers' orders, and can beaccessed from the order entry channel 14. In other words, the front endprovides such a function as a user interface which enables the customerto place an order for printing or upload an image.

The back end is a site for managing the network system 10 and thenetwork center 12. Accordingly, only the systems for managing/operatingthe network system 10, such as a management system 24 for managing thenetwork center 12, the retailer system 18, and the lab system 16, canaccess the back end. Access from the order entry channel 14 isinhibited.

In the network center 12, the front end includes a memberregistration/authentication block 30 a, a digital album function block30 b, a share box function block 30 c, and an order web block 30 d.

The customer can use the order entry channel 14 to access the front endof the network center 12, thereby using the following functions.

The member registration/authentication block 30 a (hereinafter, called“member registration/authentication”) provides functions of registeringmembers, changing registered member information, and authenticating(sign-in) members. In the illustrated network center 12, authenticationis carried out by using a member ID (identification information such asan identification number) and a password set for each member. The memberinformation is managed by a member manager of the back end describedbelow.

The retailer system 18 may also have functions for memberregistration/authentication/sign-in conforming thereto. Accordingly,when the order entry channel 14 accesses the network center 12 throughthe retailer system 18, in the case where a member signs in in theretailer system 18 before accessing the network center 12, the sign-inof the member is not executed in the front end.

The digital album function block 30 b (hereinafter, called “albumfunction”) provides a function of uploading an image through the orderentry channel 14, a function (image storage function block) of storingimages of each member as an album (digital album), a function (functionwhich enables the member to view his/her own album) which enables themember to display an album image through the order entry channel 14, anda function which enables the member to rotate the displayed album imagesor view them in a slide show. In other words, the album functionprovides a digital album function through the communication network.

The album includes a system album and a My Album. The system albumstores images uploaded by the member. The network center 12automatically creates one system album for each member at the initialperiod (for example, at the time of member registration). The imagesuploaded by the member are all stored in the system album.

On the other hand, the My Album is an album optionally created by themember to optionally store uploaded images all together.

In each album, the display period and the storage period for each imageare set by a later-described album manager. Displaying of an image whosedisplay period has passed is stopped, and an image whose storage periodhas passed is deleted from the album. The display period and the storageperiod may be the same or different from each other.

The image uploaded through the order entry channel 14 is managed basedon image information including an image code for specifying the image, amember ID, a retailer ID, a file format type, a stored file size, astored file name, an upload date, and a latest order date. The networkcenter 12 includes an image information table for managing such imageinformation, which will be described later.

In the network system 10 shown in FIG. 1, the member can use the albumfunction to carry out various album operations and album image editing.

Exemplary album operations that may be carried out include creating anew My Album, setting/changing the title of the My Album, displaying thealbum list, and deleting the My Album. The member cannot delete thesystem album.

Examples of the album image editing that may be carried out includedisplaying all images in an album in a slide show, displaying athumbnail image list, displaying an enlarged image, displaying a rotatedimage, adding an image, changing the image display order, changing theimage name, copying or moving an image to another album (a plurality ofimages or all images may be selected for this operation), deleting animage (a plurality of images or all images may be selected for thisoperation), and placing an order for a product such as a print from animage stored in the album.

The share box function block 30 c (hereinafter, called “share boxfunction”) provides a function which enables the member to publiclyoffer his/her own album image to a third party. The member can use theshare box function to create one or more share boxes for publiclyoffering to the third party an arbitrary number of images selected fromthe album. The images in the share box may also be publicly offered tothe third party by providing the URL for viewing these images to anacquaintance or other person.

Displaying (viewing) of images stored in the album and the share box isonly allowed for a predetermined period, and the images are also storedin the album and the share box for a predetermined period.

In addition to the album and the share box, the front end of the networkcenter 12 includes the photo storage which provides a function ofstoring for a predetermined period, images uploaded by nonmembers toorder prints. The images stored in the photo storage can be displayedduring the ordering operation. After the end of ordering, however, theimages cannot be displayed.

The order web block 30 d (hereinafter, called “order web”) provides afunction of receiving orders for products including a print, fun goodssuch as a mug and a T-shirt having an image recorded thereon, and a CDhaving an image recorded thereon.

The order web is accessed from the order entry channel 14 to select aproduct (print, fun goods, a CD, or the like) and an image for which aproduct is to be ordered, and when an order for printing is placed, theprint size and the quantity are input/instructed. The destination(receipt shop) where the product is to be received or the deliverydestination, and the payment method are also input/instructed asrequired in the order web.

In the network system 10 of the shown example, the member places anorder (selects an image for which a product is to be ordered) using theorder web in an album mode or a menu mode.

The album mode is a mode in which an image to be ordered is selectedfrom the images stored in the album. The menu mode is a mode in whichimages are uploaded through the order entry channel 14 and an image tobe ordered is selected from the uploaded images. Irrespective of whetheror not an order is placed, the images uploaded by the member are storedin the system album. In other words, the order web also provides animage upload function.

A mode similar to the menu mode is only applicable when a nonmemberplaces an order using the order web, and the uploaded images are storedin the photo storage as described above.

It is also possible in the network system 10 to select an image from theimages stored in the share box through the order entry channel 14 andplace an order for a product.

On the other hand, the back end of the network center 12 is a site wherethe network system 10 and the network center 12 are managed as describedabove. The back end includes a member management block 40 a, an albummanagement block 40 b, a basic information management block 40 c, acommercial product management block 40 d, a site management block 40 e,an order management block 40 f, a workflow block 40 g, a lab orderreceiving server 42, a settlement block 44, and a point management block40 h.

The member management block 40 a (hereinafter, called “member manager”)provides a function of managing member information such as managingmember information (including management in registration of new members,and changing/adding/updating of various pieces of information) andretrieving member information.

Examples of the information of a member include a member ID, a password,an E-mail address, an ID (selected shop ID) of a receipt shop 26(hereinafter, called “receipt shop”) where a product is received, aname, an address, a telephone number, and a delivery destination.

The retrieval of the member information is to provide the function inwhich the retailer system 18 retrieves a member according with a givencondition.

The album management block 40 b (hereinafter, called “album manager”)provides a function (capacity management function block) of managing themaximum storage capacity of the album, the share box, the photo storage,and the like, and the storage period and the display period of an image.

In response to the request from the retailer system 18 or the lab system16, the album manager sets the album maximum storage capacity, the imagestorage period, and the image display period per member for eachretailer system 18 or each lab system 16. In other words, the retailersystem 18 or the lab system 16 (retailer or lab) can set the albumcapacity, the image display period, and the image storage period. Thedisplay period and the storage period may be the same or different.

The album manager stops displaying an image whose display period hasexpired. Also, the album manager stops displaying an image whose storageperiod has expired, and thereafter, deletes the image at a predeterminedtiming. The member may be notified of expiration of the display periodor the like by E-mail or other means.

In the network system 10, the display period and/or storage period maybe changed depending on whether or not a product was ordered for theimage (e.g., the period may be extended depending on whether or not anorder was placed). The display period and/or storage period may also bedifferent between members and nonmembers.

The album manager periodically deletes a My Album, a photo storage, anda share box which do not store any images. In addition, the albummanager forcibly stops offering to public a share box which store imagesoffending public order and morals.

The basic information management block 40 c (hereinafter, called “basicinformation manager”) provides a function of managing various pieces ofbasic information of the lab system 16, the retailer system 18, and thereceipt shop.

The basic information manager registers/manages the retailer system 18(retailer having the retailer system 18) associated with each lab system16 (lab having the lab system 16) in relation to the receipt shopassociated with each retailer system 18, manages the basic informationof the lab systems 16, retailer systems 18, and receipt shops, andchanges/updates the basic information as necessary or upon request.

The commercial product management block 40 d (hereinafter, called“commercial product manager”) provides a function of managing productshandled by the lab which has the lab system 16, the retailer which hasthe retailer system 18, and the receipt shop.

In the illustrated network system 10, for example, a (photographic)print on which an image received from a member or a nonmember isreproduced, a CD having the image stored thereon, and fun goods (e.g., amug and a T-shirt) having the image reproduced thereon are provided asproducts to a customer. The commercial product manager provides afunction of setting products (commercial products) to be handled by theretailer system 18 or the lab system 16, a function of setting prices ofthe products, and a function of displaying the products on the orderweb. The commercial product manager also provides a function ofgenerating order setting information (image, commercial product type,print size, quantity, and the like) which is order information,according to an order for a product placed by the customer using theorder entry channel 14 (more specifically according to theinput/instruction of the order).

Products to be handled and prices of the products can be applied/set foreach retailer system 18 or each lab system 16 by the function of thecommercial product manager. In other words, the retailer and the lab canset products to be handled and prices of the products.

The site management block 40 e (hereinafter, called “site manager”)provides management functions for a manager of retailers and for a labmanager for operating the network system 10, such as announcementinformation to the customer, statistical information, and applicationdownloading information, and a management function for a center manager(operator) serving as the window to a lab operation manager in thenetwork system 10.

The order management block 40 f (hereinafter, called “order manager”)provides a function (order reception function block) of managing anorder, such as generation, retrieval, or displaying of orderinformation.

In the order manager, when a customer places an order, and the order iscompleted (established) after the customer selects the method ofreceiving the product or the payment method, or the like, the ordermanager executes necessary calculation such as calculation of chargesusing, for example, the order setting information or the like togenerate predetermined information, thereby generating orderinformation. Further, the order manager sends the order informationgenerated to the lab order receiving server.

The workflow block 40 g (hereinafter, called “workflow”) provides aworkflow function for changing a setting of a price/product in operatingand managing the network system 10.

When the retailer system 18 or the lab system 16 applies for changing ofretailer or lab information (basic information and detailedinformation), changing of charges, or changing of information on areceipt shop, the workflow judges whether the application is appropriateand decides approval or rejection. When approved, the changing appliedfor is confirmed, and changing contents are applied to the networksystem 10.

The lab order receiving server 42 (hereinafter, called “lab orderreceiving server”) provides to the lab system 16 via a lab orderreceiving module 16 a to be described below, a function of receiving anorder in the lab system 16, including transmission of order informationand an image.

As described above, the order information is sent to the lab orderreceiving server, and image data corresponding to the order informationis also sent to the lab order receiving server (order information forone order and its corresponding image data will be hereinaftercollectively referred to as “order job”). The lab order receiving servertransfers order list information to the lab system 16 in response to arequest from the lab system 16, and an order job for one order requestedfrom the lab system 16 is transferred to the lab system 16.

The settlement block 44 (hereinafter, called “settlement”) provides afunction of obtaining card authorization (credit) from a settlement site20 when credit card payment or debit card payment is selected for thepayment method.

The settlement site 20 is a web site which is connected to the networkcenter 12 through the communication network and which is used to executewell-known online settlement. In the network center 12, onlyauthorization acquisition is carried out for the settlement site.

The network system 10 employs a point system in which points are givento a member (customer who has registered as a member) depending upon theorder track record of each member. Whereby, a member who has accumulatedpredetermined points or more can receive various services according tothe number of the points. The number of points given is set dependingupon the total charge of the orders. Alternatively, the number of pointsgiven may be set according to a product or a delivery method in thenetwork system 10, the retailer system 18, or the lab system 16.

The point management block 40 h (hereinafter, called “point manager”) isfor managing the point system, and provides a function (point managementfunction block) of managing points that are given according to an ordertrack record of a member and are used in compensation for serviceselected by the member, for each member.

Specific functions of the point system and the point manager will beexplained in detail below.

The lab system 16 includes a PC, a WS, or a server device, and isinstalled in the lab (photofinisher). A digital photoprinter or aproduction device such as a device for printing images on various fungoods is connected to or integrated with the lab system 16.

In the lab system 16, order receiving software which is an applicationfor receiving a product order from the network center 12 is installed.

The lab system 16 uses an order receiving module 16 a which included inthe order receiving software for obtaining an order job from the networkcenter 12 (lab order receiving server) in order to obtain an orderinformation list, and requests transfer of an order job for the labsystem 16 to obtain the order job. The lab (lab system 16) creates aproduct corresponding to the order job, and delivers the product to adelivery destination or a receipt shop according to the orderinformation. The lab system 16 establishes/cancels credit card paymentor decides cancellation of debit card payment according to authorizationinformation added to the order information, and sends the result to thesettlement site 20.

As described above, the member can use the order entry channel 14 toaccess the network center 12 (front end) and upload an image to thesystem album. The member can access the network center in the samemanner as above to select an optional image from images stored in thealbum (album mode) or upload images to select an image therefrom (menumode), thereby ordering a product. The image that the member hasuploaded in the menu mode is stored in the system album.

The nonmember can also access the network center in the same manner fromthe order entry channel 14 to order a product by a method conforming tothe menu mode. An image uploaded by the nonmember is stored in the photostorage as described above.

In the network center 12, order setting information is generated by thecommercial product manager in response to an order from the order entrychannel 14. Upon establishment of the order, the order manager generatesorder information and sends an order job (including the orderinformation and its corresponding image data) to the lab order receivingserver.

The lab system 16 uses the order receiving module 16 a to view a list oforder information in the lab order receiving server, requests transferof an order job for the lab system 16, creates a product such as a printaccording to the order information of the transferred order job, anddelivers the created product.

Thus, according to the network system 10 of the present invention, sincethe communication network such as the Internet is used, products can beordered from anywhere regardless of business hours, and digital albumservices or public album services to a third party can also be provided.

Furthermore, the functions that can be shared by the retailer and thelab are made common, and the interface function for the customer and themanagement functions of the network system 10 are integrated in thenetwork center 12. Thus, collection and delivery operations, customermanagement, and settlement processing can be simplified, while achievingsimplification of the system operation and reduction of operation costs.In many cases, troubles or version upgrades of the network system 10 canbe intensively dealt with in the network center 12, which enablesoperational stabilization while dealing with troubles more quickly.

Hereinafter, a description is given of a point system and service basedon the point system in the network system 10.

As described above, the network system 10 adopts a system for givingpoints depending on order track records of members. With this system, amember who has accumulated points of a predetermined value or more canbe provided with various services depending on the number of the points.The point manager of the back end manages the points.

The point manager (i.e., point management function) manages three kindsof data, namely, data on “total points”, data on “remaining points”, anddata on “ranks” for each member.

The data on “total points” includes a sum value of all the points havingbeen given to a customer so far since the customer was subscribed as amember, and the member having higher total points has better order trackrecord. In other words, the number of total points can be regarded as anorder track record of a member so far, i.e., credibility of the memberin the image network system. Note that the total points are onlyincreased according to the order track record and are never decreased.

The data on “remaining points” includes the number of points remainingafter points which have been used in compensation for a service arededucted from the total points, that is, the number of points currentlyretained by the member and available to the member. The remaining pointsincrease according to the order track record. In a case where a serviceis received in compensation for points, the points corresponding to theservice are deducted from the remaining points.

The data on “ranks” includes ranks of members, which are determinedbased on the total points. According to this embodiment, for example,three ranks of A, B, and C are set. Different kinds of services aregiven to the members depending on the ranks thereof. A member of higherrank (i.e., a member with a larger number of the total points) cannaturally receive better services.

When a member orders merchandise such as print by using the order webthrough the order entry channel 14, points corresponding to the orderare added to the total points as well as to the remaining points. Whenthe points are added to the total points, the point manager sets a rankfor the member based on the total points of the member. The rank isdetermined based on whether the number of the total points is largerthan a certain threshold value.

As described above, according to the present invention, a rank isdetermined for each member based on the total points as an index formeasuring the credibility of the member. Based on the rank thusdetermined, each member may be allowed to select a service content forthe member, or to change a service content when setting a maximumstorage capacity and a storage period of a system album. The selectionand change of a service content by a member will be specificallydescribed later.

Next, explanation will be made of a judgment to be made as to a rank ofa member when an order is placed in the network system 10 based on aflowchart of FIG. 2.

In a case where a member places an order for printing or the like byusing the order entry channel 14 (S110), the member accesses the orderweb of the network center 12 as described above to place the order(S120). When the placement of an order has been completed, the pointmanager determines the number of points to be given to the member inaccordance with the content of the order. The number of points to begiven may be determined based on the content of the order, or on thevalue of the order. The content of the order includes merchandise suchas print, the order quantity such as the number of prints, a size of theprint, and a type of the processing. The points thus determined is addedto each of the total points and the remaining points of the member whichare managed by the point manager (S130).

Then, the point manager determines the rank of the member after thepoints are given, with reference to the threshold values 1 and 2 whichare provided in advance for rank determination. According to thisembodiment, the threshold value 1 is set to be smaller than thethreshold value 2 (i.e., the threshold value 1<the threshold value 2).The values of the threshold values 1 and 2 are set in advance by thenetwork center 12.

The point manager first compares the total points, to which points havebeen added, with the threshold value 1 (S140). When the value of thetotal points is equal to or smaller than the threshold value 1, themember is set to rank C (S150). Meanwhile, when the value of the totalpoints is larger than the threshold value 1, the value of the totalpoints is further compared with the threshold value 2 (S160). When thevalue of the total points is larger than the threshold value 2, rank Ais set to the member (S180). When the value of the total points is equalto or smaller than the threshold value 2, rank B is set to the member(S170). The rank thus determined is saved in the point manager as in thecase of the total points and the remaining points.

When a member who has signed in on the network center 12 through theorder entry channel 14 executes processing other than placing an ordersuch as album editing (S190), the rank judgment is not performed.

In the manner as described above, the network center 12 checks the totalpoints of a member each time points corresponding to an order are givento the member, and determines the rank of the member. The rank thusdetermined is reflected in the control of a screen to be displayed whenthe member signs in next time.

According to the present invention, the rank is determined immediatelyafter the processing of placing an order. However, the rank may bedetermined at another timing different from the above. That is, when amember first signs in through the order entry channel 14, the rank maybe determined by reading the total points of the member stored in thepoint manager.

Next, a first embodiment of the image network system using the centerserver of the present invention will be described in detail.

First, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 3, a description is givenof the processing to be executed according to the rank of a member whenthe member signs in on the network center 12.

In FIG. 3, a member connects to the network center 12 through the orderentry channel 14 and signs in (S210). When the member signs in, thepoint manager checks the rank of the member (S220), and the order webcauses the order entry channel 14 to display thereon a screen which isdifferent depending upon the rank thus checked.

First, in any of the cases of rank A and rank B, the point managerchecks the remaining points of the member to see whether the number ofpoints accumulated as the remaining points is enough (50 points or morein this embodiment) to be used in compensation for optional servicedescribed later (S230).

When the number of the remaining points is enough, a point displayscreen shown in FIG. 4A is displayed. On the point display screen, theremaining points of the member and the choices as to whether to expandthe upper limit of the storage capacity of the album or to extend thestorage period thereof in exchange for the remaining points, aredisplayed, and the member is urged to make a choice (S240).

In a case where the member has selected the use of the points (i.e., ina case where “Yes” is selected on the point display screen), the orderentry channel 14 displays an option selection screen on which the memberselects the optional service (S260). According to this embodiment, thescreens as shown in FIGS. 4B and 4C are displayed in the cases of rank Band rank A, respectively, as the option selection screen (S260).

The optional service in this case refers to service that is available toa member of and beyond a certain rank, in exchange for the remainingpoints. In this embodiment, as an example of the option (i.e., optionalservice), the storage capacity can be expanded and the storage periodcan be extended.

In this embodiment, three patterns of the optional service are offered,that is, the expansion of the storage capacity, the extension of thestorage period, and the expansion of the storage capacity and storageperiod.

According to this embodiment, the storage capacity to be expanded andthe storage period to be extended are set based on the storage capacityand the storage period calculated by converting and exchanging theremaining points into “retention counts” by the point manager.

One “retention count” corresponds to a case of holding a predeterminedamount of data for a predetermined period. That is, the product of adata amount and a period is converted into counts to thereby calculatethe capacity and the period. The use of the retention counts describedabove allows customers to expand, according to their preferences, thecapacity and the period under a predetermined condition, thereby makingit possible to provide service further finely tuned.

In this embodiment, one retention count (hereinafter, referred to as“one count”) corresponds to, for example, a case of storing an image of1 M byte for a day. Further, 12 counts correspond to one point in thepoint manager. In the point manager of the network center 12, the numberof remaining points of a member is converted into and exchanged for thenumber of counts, to thereby provide optional service in relation toimage management in the album according to the number of the counts, thedetail of which is described later.

According to this embodiment, the album setting for each member isinitially set such that an image of 50 M bytes at maximum can be storedfor 30 days. In other words, the counts corresponding to the setting onthe album provided in advance to every member are calculated as follows:50 M bytes×30 days=1500 counts.

First, in the case where the member is of rank B, it is to provide anoptional service of expanding the storage capacity and extending thestorage period, in compensation for 50 points of the remaining points ofthe member. In other words, it is to make the album setting using 2100counts which is obtained by adding 600 counts (50 points×12) to theinitially set 1500 counts.

In the option selection screen shown in FIG. 4B, three choices aredisplayed on the order entry channel 14 as the optional service choices,which include “expansion of storage capacity by 20 M bytes (50 pointsneeded)”, “extension of storage period by 12 days (50 points needed)”,and “expansion of storage capacity by 10 M bytes and extension ofstorage period by 5 days (50 points needed)”.

The choice “expansion of storage capacity by 20 M bytes (50 pointsneeded)” is to expand the storage capacity, specifically, to expand theupper limit of the storage capacity by 20 M bytes while the storageperiod remains unchanged as 30 days. In other words, the album settingof the member is made with the storage capacity of 70 M bytes and thestorage period of 30 days.

The choice “extension of storage period by 12 days (50 points needed)”is to extend the storage period, specifically, to extend the storageperiod by 12 days while the storage capacity remains unchanged as 50 Mbytes. In other words, the album setting of the member is made with thestorage capacity of 50 M bytes and the storage period of 42 days.

The choice “expansion of storage capacity by 10 M bytes and extension ofstorage period by 5 days (50 points needed)” is to expand both thestorage capacity and the storage period. The storage capacity and thestorage period are increased by 10 M bytes and by 5 days, respectively.In other words, the album setting of the member is made with the storagecapacity of 60 M bytes and the storage period of 35 days.

In any of those choices, the product of the number of M bytes and thenumber of days (i.e., 70 M bytes×30 days, 50 M bytes×42 days, or 60 Mbytes×35 days) is 2100. In other words, each of those choices results inusing 2100 counts which have been obtained by adding 600 counts to theinitially set 1500 counts. That is, each of those choices is theoptional service using 50 points of the remaining points.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show how the album setting is expanded in compensationfor 50 points of the remaining points retained by a member.

In FIGS. 5A and 5B, C₁ shows the album setting which has already beenprovided to a member. The album setting is converted into 1500 counts(50 M bytes×30 days).

When a member selects the “expansion of storage capacity by 20 M bytes(50 points needed)” in the option selection screen shown in FIG. 4B, thealbum setting is made in which the upper limit of the storage capacityis expanded in compensation for the counts including the 600 countsadded as described above. At this time, as indicated by C₂ of FIG. 5A,the upper limit of the storage capacity increases by 20 M bytes to be 70M bytes while the storage period remains unchanged as 30 days. In thiscase, the number of counts increases by 600 counts (20 M bytes×30 days)as described above when the album setting is changed from C₁ to C₂.

Alternatively, when a member selects the “extension of storage period by12 days (50 points needed)” in the option selection screen shown in FIG.4B, the album setting is made in which the storage period is extended incompensation for the counts including the 600 counts added as describedabove. At this time, as indicated by C₃ of FIG. 5A, the upper limit ofthe storage capacity remains unchanged as 50 M bytes while the storageperiod is extended by 12 days to be 42 days. In this case, the number ofcounts increases by 600 counts (50 M bytes×12 days) as described abovewhen the album setting is changed from C₁ to C₃.

Further, when a member selects the “expansion of storage capacity by 10M bytes and extension of storage period by 5 days (50 points needed)” inthe option selection screen shown in FIG. 4B, the album setting is madein which the storage capacity is expanded and the storage period isextended in compensation for the counts including the 600 counts addedas described above. At this time, as indicated by C₄ of FIG. 5B, theupper limit of the storage capacity increases by 10 M bytes to be 60 Mbytes while the storage period is extended by 5 days to be 35 days. Inthis case, the number of counts in the album setting of C₁ is 1500counts (50 M bytes×30 days) and the number of counts in the albumsetting of C₄ is 2100 counts (60 M bytes×35 days). Accordingly, thenumber of counts increases by 600 counts (2100−1500=600 counts) asdescribed above when the album setting is changed from C₁ to C₄.

Hereinafter, a description is given of the processing executed by thenetwork center 12 in each case of the choices selected by a member, withreference to the flowchart of FIG. 6.

When a member selects “Yes” in the point display screen shown in FIG. 4A(S310), the order entry channel 14 displays the option selection screenfor allowing the member to select the optional service as describedabove.

When the “expansion of storage capacity” is selected in the optionselection screen (“Yes” in S320), the album manager expands the upperlimit of the storage capacity of the album of the member by 20 M bytes(S330), the point manager further subtracts 50 points from the remainingpoints of the member (S340), and the order entry channel 14 displays theresult of the storage capacity thus expanded (S350).

When the “extension of storage period” is selected in the optionselection screen (“No” in S320, and further “Yes” in S360), the albummanager extends the storage period of the album of the member by 12 days(S370), the point manager further subtracts 50 points from the remainingpoints of the member (S380), and the order entry channel 14 displays theresult of the storage period thus extended (S390).

When the “expansion of storage capacity and extension of storage period”is selected in the option selection screen (“No” in S360), the albummanager expands the upper limit of the storage capacity by 10 M bytesand extends the storage period by 5 days as to the album of the member(S400), the point manager further subtracts 50 points from the remainingpoints of the member (S410), and the order entry channel 14 displays theresult of the storage capacity thus expanded and the storage period thusextended (S420).

Meanwhile, in the case where the member is of rank A, in addition to theservice of rank B, additional optional service of expanding the storagecapacity and extending the storage period is provided. The additionaloptional service needs a further increased number of points, i.e., 100points of the remaining points of the member. In other words, inaddition to the three choices each using 50 points as presented in thecase of rank B, additional three choices are further provided each ofwhich results in using 2700 counts obtained by adding 1200 counts (100points×12=1200 counts) to the initially set 1500 counts, to therebyprovide six choices in total.

Hereinafter, a description is given of the processing of converting andexchanging the points into the retention counts in the case of rank A,with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 7.

As described above, when a member signs in, the point manager checks therank of the member. In the case of rank A, the point manager checks theremaining points of the member to see whether the remaining points havebeen accumulated to 50 points or more (S510).

In the case where the number of the remaining points is 50 or more(“Yes” in S510), the point manager further checks whether 100 points ormore are accumulated as the remaining points (S530).

In the case where the number of the remaining points is less than 100(“No” in S530), the network center 12 causes the order entry channel 14to display thereon the option selection screen shown in FIG. 4C so as tourge the member to make a choice. In this case, in order to prohibit themember from selecting the choices each using 100 points, selectionbuttons for the choices may not be displayed. Alternatively, a screen inwhich the choices each using 100 points are eliminated may be displayed.

In the case where the choice using 50 points of the remaining points isselected in the option selection screen (“Yes” in S540), the 50 pointsare converted into counts (12×50 points=600 counts), and further, 50points are subtracted from the remaining points of the member, so thatthe points are exchanged for counts (S550).

In the case where the selection is canceled (“No” in S540), theremaining points are not converted into and exchanged for counts, and aninitial screen or the like is displayed on the order entry channel 14.

In the case where the number of the remaining points is 100 or more(“Yes” in S530), the network center 12 causes the order entry channel 14to display thereon the option selection screen shown in FIG. 4C so as tourge the member to make a choice.

In the case where the choice using 100 points of the remaining points isselected in the option selection screen (“Yes” in S560), the 100 pointsare converted into counts (12×100 points=1200 counts), and further, 100points are subtracted from the remaining points of the member, so thatthe points are exchanged for counts (S570).

Meanwhile, in the case where the choice using 50 points of the remainingpoints is selected in the option selection screen (“No” in S560, andfurther “Yes” in S540), the 50 points are converted into counts (12×50points=600 counts), and further, 50 points are subtracted from theremaining points of the member, so that the points are exchanged forcounts (S550).

In the case where the selection is canceled (“No” in S540), theremaining points are not converted into and exchanged for counts, and aninitial screen or the like is displayed on the order entry channel 14.

In the case where the number of the remaining points is less than 50(“No” in S510), the member is notified, through the order entry channel14, of the fact that the change of the album setting with the use ofpoints cannot be made (S520).

In the option selection screen shown in FIG. 4C, six choices aredisplayed on the order entry channel 14 as the optional service choices,which include “expansion of storage capacity by 20 M bytes (50 pointsneeded)”, “expansion of storage capacity by 40 M bytes (100 pointsneeded)”, “extension of storage period by 12 days (50 points needed)”,“extension of storage period by 24 days (100 points needed)”, “expansionof storage capacity by 10 M bytes and extension of storage period by 5days (50 points needed)”, and “expansion of storage capacity by 25 Mbytes and extension of storage period by 6 days (100 points needed)”. Ofthose choices, the choices each using 50 points are similar to those ofthe case of rank B described above.

The choice “expansion of storage capacity by 40 M bytes (100 pointsneeded)” is to expand the storage capacity, specifically, to expand theupper limit of the storage capacity by 40 M bytes while the storageperiod remains unchanged as 30 days. In other words, the album settingof the member is made with the storage capacity of 90 M bytes and thestorage period of 30 days.

The choice “extension of storage period by 24 days (100 points needed)”is to extend the storage period, specifically, to extend the storageperiod by 24 days while the storage capacity remains unchanged as 50 Mbytes. In other words, the album setting of the member is made with thestorage capacity of 50 M bytes and the storage period of 54 days.

The choice “expansion of storage capacity by 25 M bytes and extension ofstorage period by 6 days (100 points needed)” is to expand and extendthe storage capacity and the storage period, respectively. The storagecapacity and the storage period are increased by 25 M bytes and by 6days, respectively. In other words, the album setting of the member ismade with the storage capacity of 75 M bytes and the storage capacity of36 days.

In any of those choices, the product of the number of M bytes and thenumber of days (i.e., 90 M bytes×30 days, 50 M bytes×54 days, or 75 Mbytes×36 days) is 2700. In other words, each of those choices results inusing 2700 counts which have been obtained by adding 1200 counts to theinitially set 1500 counts. That is, each of those choices is theoptional service using 100 points of the remaining points.

When a member selects one of those choices, the processing shown in FIG.6 is executed as in the case of rank B. In the case of rank A, theexpansion processing and the extension processing in Steps S330, S379,and S400, and the use of the points in Steps S340, S380, and S410 dependon the choice selected by the member and the remaining points of themember.

The member selects the desired optional service according to theremaining points. When one of the options is selected, the album managerchanges the storage capacity or the storage period of the album of thecorresponding member, and further the point manager deducts thecorresponding number of points from the remaining points, according tothe option thus selected (S270). In this case, points are not subtractedfrom the total points as described above.

In the example shown in FIG. 4C, the choices each corresponding toeither one of 50 points and 100 points are displayed in the case of rankA. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and only thechoices each using 100 points may be displayed in the case of rank A.

In the above-mentioned example, a member selects the desired choice fromamong the choices displayed on the order entry channel 14. According tothis embodiment, however, the choices are set based on the number ofcounts calculated, and therefore, in the case of changing both thestorage capacity and the storage period, the storage capacity and thestorage period may be arbitrarily set according to the number of counts.

For example, a member may directly input the number of days to extendand the storage capacity to expand, and the point manager may calculate,according to the remaining points of the member, the storage period andthe storage capacity corresponding to the remaining points, to therebyset the storage capacity and the storage period.

When the network center 12 completes the change of the album setting andthe calculation of the remaining point, an initial screen such as a menuscreen is displayed on the order entry channel 14 for allowing themember to start executing an album editing processing or an orderplacing processing through the screen.

In the case where the number of the remaining points is not enough inStep S230, or where a member has selected “No” in Step S250, the networkcenter 12 causes the order entry channel 14 not to display the pointdisplay screen and the option selection screen. When the member signsin, the network center 12 causes the order entry channel 12 to displaythe initial screen such as a menu screen through which the memberexecutes an album editing processing, an order placing processing, orthe like.

In the case of a member of rank C, the network center 12 causes theorder entry channel 14 not to display the option selection screen,unlike in the cases of rank A and rank B, regardless of the number ofthe remaining points. When the member signs in, the network center 12causes the order entry channel 14 to display thereon the initial screensuch as a menu screen through which the member executes an album editingprocessing, an order placing processing, or the like.

According to the processing as described above, rank C is set to amember who has just subscribed for the membership for the first time andto a member who hardly has an order track record, and therefore thechoices to be selected are not displayed on the order entry channel 14when the member signs in. A member of rank B, who has an order trackrecord equal to or higher than a predetermined value, is provided withbetter service as compared with a member of rank C. A member of rank A,who has an order track record further higher in amount as compared witha member of rank B, is provided with service further better than theservice to be provided to the member of rank B.

In other words, according to the first embodiment, the rank of a memberis determined based on the total points, and the optional service isprovided to the member when the member signs in, according to the rankthus determined. Accordingly, better service can be provided to a memberwho has a better order track record, depending on the order trackrecords of the members.

The retention counts are used for setting the amount of the storagecapacity to be expanded and the amount of the storage period to beextended, which allows the remaining points to be used for both theexpansion of the storage capacity and the extension of the storageperiod, and the balance between the expansion of the storage capacityand the extension of the storage period can be set based on thepreference of the member.

According to this embodiment, the members are ranked on a scale of A toC. However, the members may be ranked in two stages, or may be rankedminutely into four or more stages.

According to this embodiment, three patterns of choices, namely,expansion of storage capacity, extension of storage period, andexpansion of storage capacity and extension of storage period, aredisplayed as optional service. However, the present invention is notlimited to this, and the choices of the optional service may includeonly one or two of the above-mentioned three patterns.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, a description is given of the casewhere a member who has accumulated points voluntarily desires to changethe settings of the album at the time of sign-in. However, the presentinvention is not limited to this, and the basic storage condition of animage to be provided to a member may be changed (i.e., expanded) whenthe rank of the member is raised. In this case as well, it is preferableto use the above-mentioned retention counts. That is, the number ofcounts as to an album is automatically increased with respect to themember upgraded in rank, the storage capacity to be expanded and thestorage period to be extended are calculated, and the album is expandedaccording thereto. In this manner, as in the case of the optionalservice described above, the storage capacity and the storage period maybe expanded according to the preferences of customers, by using theretention counts, thereby making it possible to provide service furtherfinely tuned.

FIG. 8 shows how the album setting is expanded due to an increase in thenumber of counts when the rank of a member is raised.

In FIG. 8, C₁ shows the album setting which has already been provided tothe member. The album setting is converted into 1500 counts (50 Mbytes×30 days=1500 counts).

Hereinafter, a description is given of a case where a member of rank Cis upgraded in rank to rank B based on the total points accumulated inaccordance with the number of orders which have been placed. When therank of the member is raised, the album manager adds, for example, 900counts to the album, to thereby increase the number of the counts from1500 counts to 2400 counts. Then, the storage capacity and the storageperiod corresponding to the number of the counts are calculated, and thealbum is expanded according to the number of the counts thus increased.For example, as shown by C₅ of FIG. 8, the upper limit of the storagecapacity is expanded by 10 M bytes, and further the storage period isextended by 10 days. In this case, the product of the number of M bytesand the number of days is 2400 (60 M bytes×40 days), that is, the albumsetting corresponds to 2400 counts.

Further, a description is given of a case where a member of rank B isupgraded in rank to rank A based on the total points accumulated inaccordance with the number of orders which have been placed. As anexample, the album is set such that a capacity of 60 M bytes is to bestored for 40 days at a time just before the member is upgraded in rank.That is, the album setting is converted into 2400 counts (60 M bytes×40days=2400 counts).

In this case, the album manager adds, for example, 2600 counts to thealbum, to thereby increase the number of the counts from 2400 counts to5000 counts. Then, the storage capacity and the storage periodcorresponding to the number of the counts are calculated, and the albumis expanded according to the number of the counts thus increased. Forexample, as shown by C₆ of FIG. 8, the upper limit of the storagecapacity is expanded by 40 M bytes, and further the storage period isextended by 10 days. At this time, the product of the number of M bytesand the number of days is 5000 (100 M bytes×50 days), that is, the albumsetting corresponds to 5000 counts.

As described above, every time the rank of a member is raised, thestorage capacity and the storage period are extended and expanded instages, respectively, thereby making it possible to provide a highlycredible member with much better service increased in convenience.

In the above-mentioned example, when the rank of a member is raised, thealbum manager automatically expands the album setting by expanding thecapacity and the storage period by a predetermined amount. However, thepresent invention is not limited to this. For example, the order entrychannel 14 may display choices for conditions of album setting so as tourge a member to select a condition, and the album setting is expandedbased on the condition thus selected.

This case is described as follows.

First, a description is given of a case where the rank of a member israised from C to B.

As described above, no point has been accumulated as the total pointwhen a member newly registers for membership, and rank C is assigned tothe member. The storage capacity and the storage period of the album areinitially set to 50 M bytes and 30 days, respectively. In other words,the album setting corresponds to 1500 counts.

In this case, when the member is upgraded in rank to rank B based on thetotal points accumulated in accordance with the number of orders whichhave been placed, the album manager presents service which correspondsto the increase of the number of the counts of the album from 1500counts to 2400 counts. That is, the album manager causes the order entrychannel 14 to display thereon choices as shown in FIG. 9A for expandingthe storage capacity and extending the storage period such that thestorage capacity and the storage period of the album collectivelycorrespond to 2400 counts, and urges the member to make a choice.

The choices for the album setting include, for example, “50 Mbytes/48-day storage” (i.e., only the storage period is extended by 18days from the initial setting), “80 M bytes/30-day storage” (i.e., onlythe storage capacity is expanded by 30 M bytes from the initialsetting), and “60 M bytes/40-day storage” (i.e., the storage capacity isexpanded by 10 M bytes and the storage period is extended by 10 days,from the initial setting). In any of those choices, the product of thenumber of M bytes and the number of days (50 M bytes×48 days, 80 Mbytes×30 days, or 60 M bytes×40 days) is 2400. In other words, the albumsetting corresponds to 2400 counts.

The member selects one of the choices corresponding to the desired albumsetting. When the album setting is selected, the album manager changesthe storage capacity and/or the storage period of the albumcorresponding to the member based on the setting thus selected.

A description is further given of a case where the rank of the member israised from C to A or from B to A.

When the member is upgraded in rank to rank A based on the total pointsaccumulated in accordance with the number of orders which have beenplaced, the album manager presents optional service of increasing thenumber of the counts of the album to 5000 counts. That is, the albummanager causes the order entry channel 14 to display thereon choices asshown in FIG. 9B for expanding the storage capacity and the storageperiod such that the storage capacity and the storage period of thealbum collectively corresponds to 5000 counts, and urges the member tomake a choice.

The choices for the album setting include, for example, “50 Mbytes/100-day storage” (i.e., only the storage period is extended by 70days from the initial setting), “166 M bytes/30-day storage” (i.e., onlythe storage capacity is expanded by 116 M bytes from the initialsetting), and “100 M bytes/50-day storage” (i.e., the storage capacityis expanded by 50 M bytes and the storage period is extended by 20 days,from the initial setting). In any of those choices, the product of thenumber of M bytes and the number of days (i.e., 50 M bytes×100 days, 166M bytes×30 days, or 100 M bytes×50 days) is 5000. In other words, thealbum setting corresponds to 5000 counts.

When the member selects one of the choices corresponding to the desiredalbum setting, the album manager changes the storage capacity and/or thestorage period of the album of the corresponding member based on thesettings thus selected.

It may also be possible to predetermine such courses as a course ofextending only the storage period, a course of expanding only thestorage capacity, and a course of expanding the storage capacity andextending the storage period, based on the selection made by a member increating an album or the like. When the rank of the member is raised,the album manager may automatically expand the album settings dependingon the predetermined courses. The album manager merely extends thestorage period according to the course of extending only the storageperiod, merely expands the storage capacity according to the course ofexpanding the storage capacity, and expands the storage capacity and thestorage period according to the course of expanding the storage capacityand the storage period.

Even in this case, the choices are set based on the number of the countscalculated. Accordingly, in a case of changing both of the storagecapacity and the storage period, a member may directly input the days toextend and the storage capacity to expand, and the point managercalculates the storage period or the storage capacity corresponding tothe remaining points based on the remaining points of the member,thereby making it possible to arbitrarily set the storage capacity andthe storage period according to the number of the counts.

Further, optional service may be provided for each rank as a bail-outmeasure for dealing with a capacity shortage of an album resulting fromuploading of a new image by a member onto the network center 12.

FIG. 10 shows a flow of processing to be executed for each rank in thecase where the uploading of image data results in a capacity shortage.

When the member uploads an image onto the network center 12 by using theorder entry channel 14 and the image is temporarily stored in thenetwork center 12 (S610), the network center 12 which has received theimage checks a free space currently available in the album of the memberand the data size of the image uploaded and temporarily stored, in orderto see whether the image data to be stored in the album exceeds aspecified capacity of the album or not when the image data is stored(S620). When the image data to be stored in the album does not exceedthe capacity of the album (“Yes” in S620), the network center 12 storesthe image temporarily stored (S680). In S610, the member may transmitmerely the information on the data size of the image to be uploaded,instead of actually uploading the image, to the network center 12.

Meanwhile, in the case where the data size of the image thus uploaded islarger than the free space of the album (“No” in S620), the image datato be stored in the album exceeds the capacity of the album, andtherefore some kind of a countermeasure must be taken.

In this case, according to this embodiment, when the image data to bestored in the album exceeds the capacity of the album, the networkcenter 12 checks the rank of the member, and presents different choicesdepending on the ranks, to thereby provide further better serviceaccording to the order track record of the member.

In Step S630, the network center 12 checks the rank of the member. Inthe case where the member is of rank A or B, the point manager checkswhether the number of the remaining points of the member is enough (50points in this example) to execute any one of choices of optionsdescribed later (S640).

In the case where the rank of the member is A or B and enough points areremaining (“Yes” in S640), the network center 12 causes the order entrychannel 14 to display thereon a screen shown in FIG. 11. In thisembodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, three kinds of choices are displayed asa measure to deal with the case where the image data to be stored in thealbum exceeds the album capacity. As shown in FIG. 11, the three choicesinclude “reselect upload image” and “edit album”, and further include“expand album capacity (50 points)”, which is displayed only to a memberof rank A or B, as a choice of an option (S650).

When the choice “reselect upload image” is selected, the member selectsimages again. In this case, the member may select images again so as notto exceed the free space of the album.

When the choice “edit album” is selected, the member checks images whichhave already been uploaded in the album, and deletes, from the album,images on which an order has already been placed or images which neednot to be stored anymore, to thereby secure a free space in the albumnecessary for uploading the new image.

When the choice “expand album capacity (50 points)” is selected, thealbum manager changes the upper limit of the album capacity of themember so as to be increased by a certain amount (for example, 20 Mbytes). Further, the album manager subtracts points (50 points in thisexample) corresponding to the amount of the album capacity thusincreased from the remaining points in the point manager. In thismanner, the member is allowed to upload images originally intended to beuploaded, without the need for selecting images again or for deletingany image in the album.

In the manner as described above, the network center 12 executes theprocessing selected by a member so as to secure a sufficient free space(S670), to thereby store the image (S680).

Meanwhile, in the case of a member of rank C in Step 630, or in the casewhere the remaining points are not enough to execute the choice of anoption (“No” in S640), the network center 12 causes the order entrychannel 14 to display thereon only two choices, that is, “reselectupload image” and “edit album”, without displaying the choice of anoption “expand album capacity (50 points)” (S660).

The member selects one of the two choices so as to execute theprocessing as described above (S670), to thereby secure a sufficientfree space in the album, and uploads an image (S680).

In this manner, when an image is uploaded, the choices to be displayedare changed according to the rank of a member. Accordingly, it ispossible to provide further better service to a member having a betterorder track record.

In the example shown in FIG. 10, the same choices are displayed in thecases of a member of rank A and rank B. However, the present inventionis not limited to this. In the case of rank A, for example, a choice ofan option to additionally provide a capacity of 40 M bytes incompensation for another 100 points may further be provided in additionto the choices shown in FIG. 11, to thereby differentiate the service tobe provided to a member of rank A from the service to be provided to amember of rank B.

In the above embodiment, the system album can be expanded byaccumulating total points or using remaining points. In addition, in thepresent invention, the system album may be reduced according to a statusof order placement made by a member. Specifically, in the album manager,a service effective period is set as to the use of the system album, soa member who has continuously placed a large number of orders canreceive further better service.

The reduction of the system album is performed as follows. That is, theretention counts are calculated based on the storage capacity and thestorage period of the system album of a member, and the system album isreset by using counts which are obtained by subtracting a predeterminednumber of counts from the calculated retention counts, thereby reducingthe system album.

The service effective period is the period from the time a member placesa new order to the time the system album is reduced.

As one example, explanation will be made of a case where the albummanager makes a setting in which the service effective period is 6months and the system album is reduced by the amount of 100 counts afterthe service effective period has passed. Further, the member possessesthe system album corresponding to 500 counts (50 M bytes×10 days).

When the member places an order through the order entry channel 14, thealbum manager sets the date on which the order was placed as the startdate of the service effective period, and sets the date which is 6months from the order placed date as the end date.

In the case where the member does not place any order, that is, thetotal points are not increased, between the start date and the end dateof the service effective period, the album manager changes the settingof the system album to the setting using 400 counts obtained bysubtracting 100 counts from 500 counts which the member possesses,thereby reducing the system album.

There is no limitation on the pattern of the system album reductionthrough subtraction of retention counts. The system album may be reducedto 400 counts by reducing only the storage capacity (40 M bytes×10days), to 400 counts by reducing only the storage period (50 M bytes×8days), or to about 400 counts by reducing both of the storage capacityand the storage period (44 M bytes×9 days). The album manager mayautomatically determine the pattern of the system album reduction whileconsidering the status of the images stored in the system album.Alternatively, a member may select the pattern of the system albumreduction from choices displayed on the order entry channel 14, or inputthe pattern of the system album reduction through the order entrychannel 14.

On the other hand, in the case where the member places a new orderbetween the start date and the end date of the service effective period,the album manager sets the date of the new order as the start date ofthe service effective period to thereby reset the service effectiveperiod.

Further, preferably, the album manager notifies the member of the enddate of the service effective period one to two weeks beforehand throughe-mail or the like. Whereby, the member can reset the service effectiveperiod by placing a new order, thereby avoiding the reduction of thesystem album, or the member can increase the free space by deletingunnecessary images from among images stored in the system album, therebypreparing for the reduction of the system album.

Further, in the above embodiment, the total points are accumulated toincrease without decreasing, so that the rank of a member does not drop.However, in the present invention, the rank of a member may drop.Specifically, an effective period is set for the total points, and therank of a member is regularly rejudged, so a member who has continuouslyplaced a large number of orders can receive better service.

The effective period of the total points is set to one year as oneexample. The start date of the point effective period may be set to apredetermined date determined by the point manager. The number of thetotal points is zero at the time of the start date.

When a member places an order within one year from the start date,points corresponding to the order are added to the total points to beaccumulated. When the point effective period has passed, the pointmanager judges the rank of the member based on the total pointsaccumulated until the end date of the point effective period, and resetsthe rank of the member. The judgment of the rank may be made bycomparing the total points with the predetermined threshold valuessimilarly to the above mentioned embodiment. Further, the point managerresets the total points accumulated until the end date of the pointeffective period, sets the day following the end date of the pointeffective period as a new start date of the point effective period, andaccumulates the total points according to orders placed from the newlyset start date during the point effective period.

As described above, the rank of a member is rejudged each time a pointeffective period has passed. Thus, in the case where a member whotemporarily placed a large number of orders and was judged to rank Adoes not place any order after the total points are reset, the rank ofthe member drops to rank B or rank C. Whereby, a member who hascontinuously placed a large number of orders can receive better service.

Further, similarly to the total points, an effective period may be setfor the remaining points, and the accumulated remaining points may bereset after the effective period has passed. Whereby, a member caneffectively utilize a desired service within the effective period byusing remaining points given.

In each of the above described embodiments, preferably, orders can beplaced not only for images of a member himself/herself but also forimages of others.

As described above, a member can create the share box for disclosing theimages of the member to others, whereby the member can disclose theimages in the share box to others by providing URL for viewing theimages to others. A person who viewed the images stored in the share boxcan place an order such as printing for favorite images thereamong.

At this time, in the case where the person who placed the order is amember of the network system, the total points and the remaining pointsare added to both of a creator of the share box, i.e., the member whopossesses the images ordered, and the member who has placed the order.In the case where the person who placed the order is not a member of thenetwork system, the total points and the remaining points are added onlyto the member who possesses the images ordered.

In this manner, when the total points and the remaining points are addedto the member due to the order placed by others, preferably, the pointmanager notifies the member who possesses the images ordered of the factthat the points are given through e-mail or the like.

Further, preferably, the counts retained by the member can be convertedinto and exchanged for points according to the storage conditions of theimages, so that the member can use the points for a desired service.

For example, there is considered a case where a member stores a smallnumber of images not for a long period, so the member cannot effectivelyutilize the storage capacity and the storage period of the system albumcorresponding to the number of the counts that are given to and retainedby the member. In this case, the counts corresponding to the storagecapacity and the storage period necessary for storing the images may besecured, the remaining counts may be converted into and exchanged forpoints, and the member may receive various services using the points.Examples of the services using points include discount of printingcharge, and exchange of points for products. Whereby, even a member whostores a small number of images not for a long period can effectivelyuse retention counts given.

In this embodiment, the center server is provided in the network center,however, the present invention is not limited thereto. A part other thanthe network center, such as the retailer system and the lab system, mayinclude the center server.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, it is possible toprovide different kinds of service depending on ranks of a member,thereby making it possible to realize a center server constituting animage network system capable of providing a better service to a memberhaving a good order track record, and an image network system includingthe center server.

Further, the storage capacity and the storage period for image data canbe expanded and extended, respectively, according to the order trackrecord of a member, so that a member is allowed to store more images fora longer period of time, thereby leading to the promotion of networkprint ordering.

Further, the retention counts are used to set the expansion amounts ofthe storage capacity and the storage period, which makes it possible touse the remaining points to expand the storage capacity and to extendthe storage period. The balance between the storage capacity and thestorage period can further be set so as to suit the preference of themember.

Further, in uploading an image, a member with a good order track recordcan comfortably upload a new image without the need for deleting imagesor selecting images again in the case of accidental capacity shortage.

Next, a second embodiment of the image network system using the centerserver of the present invention is described in detail.

In the network system 10 shown in FIG. 1, as described above, forexample, in creating a system album or when there is a request made by amember afterward, selection/settings can be made on the maximum storagecapacity which is an upper limit of the storage capacity of the systemalbum and also on the storage period for storing images in the systemalbum.

In this case, when each of the choices corresponds to the same number ofretention counts, a member can select, in making selection/settings ofthe storage period, the setting of the system album as desired dependingon how the member uses the album, without giving consideration to thegain and loss to be produced according to the choice to be selected. Inaddition, after selecting the initial setting of the system album,depending upon the storage conditions of the images, a member canappropriately change the storage capacity and the storage period withinthe range not exceeding the number of the retention counts given.

Further, points given to a member according to the order track recordare converted into and exchanged for retention counts, which are usedfor expanding the settings on the storage period and on the maximumstorage capacity. The retention counts are also given to a memberaccording to the credibility of the member, and the retention countsthus given may also be used to provide service of extending the storageperiod and expanding the maximum storage capacity of the system album.Examples of the above-mentioned service which is provided by using theretention counts include service of extending the storage period andexpanding the maximum storage capacity of a system album, and service ofproviding an extended storage period longer than an ordinary period fora specific image.

According to a second embodiment described below in detail, theabove-mentioned services can be realized in the network system 10.

In the second embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, the storagecapacity and the storage period of an album are converted into“retention counts”, which are used to set the storage capacity and thestorage period for an image. Also, one retention count (hereinafter,referred to as “one count”) corresponds to a case of storing an image of1 M bytes for a day.

According to the second embodiment, the album manager shown in FIG. 1provides a premium image setting function (i.e., extended storage imageselection function block) described later and a count setting function(i.e., count setting function block), in addition to the managementfunction (i.e., storage condition management function) of managing themaximum storage capacity and the storage period of an image in theabove-mentioned album, a share box, or a photo storage.

The storage period and the maximum storage capacity are set when asystem album is created (i.e., upon member registration), or when arequest is made by a member. Further, for a specific image selected by amember as a premium storage image, a storage period different from thatof other images is set for the premium storage image. This point isspecifically described later.

As described above, the album function of the network center 12 providesa function of storing images in a system album for each member. Thesystem album has basic storage capacity and storage period set inadvance, and each member can freely upload images onto the networkcenter 12 to the extent of the maximum storage capacity and the storageperiod.

The album manager manages the images stored in the album. Also, thealbum manager manages the settings made as to the maximum storagecapacity, the storage period, and the like of the album, by using theretention counts.

In other words, according to the second embodiment, the storage capacityand the storage period are set by providing choices such that each ofthe choices corresponds to the same number of the retention counts.

The use of the retention counts as described above makes it possible toprovide various services regarding an album. For example, a plurality ofchoices using the same number of retention counts are provided forsetting an album, and a member selects a desired setting from among thechoices thus provided.

When a customer newly registers for membership to the network center 12through the order entry channel 14, a system album is automaticallycreated for each member by the album function as described above.

At this time, the album manager causes the order entry channel 14 todisplay thereon the album setting screen for making an initial settingon the maximum storage capacity and the storage period of the systemalbum.

In the album setting screen, a plurality of courses are displayed aschoices so that a member can set the maximum storage capacity and thestorage period depending on how the member uses the album. The member isurged to select a desired one of the courses displayed.

An example of the album setting screen may be a screen shown in FIG. 13.

In FIG. 13, the album manager causes the order entry channel 14 todisplay thereon three choices as the initial settings of a system albumwhen a customer registers for membership. The three choices include: a“capacity-weighted course (50 M/10 days)”, a “period-weighted course (10M bytes/50 days)”, and a “premium storage course (5 M/standard 50 days,premium 150 days)”.

In this case, according to the “capacity-weighted course”, of thefunctions of the album, the maximum storage capacity is set to be largewhile the storage period is set to be shorter than that of the“period-weighted course”. On the other hand, according to the“period-weighted course”, the maximum storage capacity is not so largewhile the storage period is set to be long, as compared with those ofthe “capacity-weighted course”.

According to the above-mentioned two courses, the same storage period isset to every image stored in the album. However, in the images stored inthe album, there may exist images which the member wants to keep for along period and images which the member does not want to keep for a longperiod. In view of this, the images are sorted as to whether the imageis stored for an ordinary period or the image is stored for a periodlonger than the ordinary period, to thereby efficiently use the countsof the album. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the “premiumstorage course” is presented as a third choice.

According to the “premium storage course”, the images in an album aresorted into “ordinary image” and “premium storage image (hereinafter,referred to as “premium image”)”, and the maximum storage capacity ofthe album is set to be further smaller than that of the “period-weightedcourse” while a storage period can be set further longer than that ofthe “period-weighted course” only for a premium image.

The premium image refers to an image that is to be stored for a longerperiod as compared with an ordinary image. A member who has selected thepremium storage course selects from among the images in the album, animage to be stored as the premium image, through the order entry channel14. The selection may be made when uploading the image, or may be madearbitrarily after the uploading of the image by requesting the orderentry channel 14 to display thereon a screen for selecting an image asthe premium image. The image thus selected is regarded as the premiumimage, to which a storage period of 150 days is set. On the other hand,the rest of the images which are not selected by the member are regardedas the ordinary image, to which a storage period of 50 days is set.According to this embodiment, images of up to 2.5 M bytes can beselected as the premium images.

The album setting in the “capacity-weighted course” is converted into500 counts (50 M bytes×10 days=500 counts). On the other hand, the albumsetting in the “period-weighted course” is converted into 500 counts (10M bytes×50 days=500 counts). Further, the album setting in the “premiumstorage course” is converted into 500 counts, which is obtained byadding 125 counts (2.5 M bytes×50 days=125 counts) of an ordinary imageto 375 counts (2.5 M bytes×150 days=375 counts) of the premium image inthe case where the images corresponding to a data size of 2.5 M bytesare selected as the premium image.

As described above, according to the above-mentioned three courses, thealbum setting for each course corresponds to the retention counts of 500counts. In other words, each of those courses corresponds to the samenumber of retention counts. Accordingly, a member can select the settingof the album as desired depending on how the member uses the album,without giving consideration to the gain and loss to be produceddepending on the course to be selected. Further, in the network center12, the same load is imposed on a server no matter which of the coursesis selected, whereby a member can select any course in a fair manner.

According to the second embodiment of the present invention as describedabove, for example, a member who wishes to order a large number ofimages at once may select the “capacity-weighted course”. A member whomay repeatedly order a small number of images or a member who hasuploaded images to the system album but still wishes to order an imageafter a certain period of time from the uploading may select the“period-weighted course”. Further, a member who wishes to order only aspecific image after a certain period of time from the uploading mayselect the “premium storage course”. As described above, a member canselect a desirable course on the basis of the network system 10 or theuse of the image.

Further, as described above, each of those three courses has the albumsetting corresponding to the retention count of 500 counts. Thus, amember can desirably set the system album according to the member'susage regardless of gain and loss generated by the selection of thecourse. In addition, in the network center 12, irrespective of theselection of the course, the load to the server is assumed to be thesame. As a result, the center server can be stably provided.

In this embodiment, the choices each using the retention counts of 500counts are presented as the initial setting of the system album,however, the number of the retention counts at the time of the initialsetting may be freely set on the retailer system side or the lab systemside as long as the choices use the same number of the retention counts.

Further, the course setting of the system album may be changed after themember registration by displaying the album setting screen of FIG. 13.For example, the course setting may be changed in a case where a memberpresses a predetermined album setting change button or the like torequest the album manager to change the setting through the order entrychannel 14 during sign-in or browsing of an album.

The member can appropriately change the storage capacity and the storageperiod within the range not exceeding the number of the retention countsthat are given to the member at the initial setting of the system albumand are retained by the member.

That is, in this embodiment, the member selects the album setting forthe amount of 500 counts among the choices presented in the initialsetting of the system album. Thus, the member is given and retains 500counts as the retention counts that the member can use. Thereafter, themember can freely change the setting of the storage capacity and thestorage period of the system album along with the increase or decreaseof the data sizes of the images stored in the system album to the extentnot to exceed the number of the counts retained.

The setting of the system album needs only be changed depending upon thecondition at the time. For example, the setting of the system album ischanged in such a manner that when the data sizes of the images storedin the system album are small, the storage capacity is reduced and thestorage period is extended for the reduced amount of the storagecapacity, or when the data sizes of the images which a member wishes tostore are large, the storage period is shortened and the storagecapacity is expanded for the shortened amount of the storage period.

For example, the setting of the system album for a member having 500counts can be changed to any setting other than the above describedchoices, such as a setting of 5 M bytes×100 days=500 counts or a settingof 100 M bytes×5 days=500 counts.

Not all the counts given are necessarily used for album setting, and thealbum setting may be changed to any setting such as a setting of 10 Mbytes×30 days=300 counts. That is, a member can change the album settingby using necessary counts out of the counts given.

In this manner, a member can appropriately change the setting of thesystem album depending upon a data amount of images actually stored inthe system album.

In the case where counts remain after performing album setting by usingthe necessary number of counts, a member may convert the remainingcounts into points, exchange the counts for the converted points, andreceive various services using the points. For example, in the aboveembodiment, 200 counts (500 counts−300 counts) can be used for receivingservice using points. Conversion and exchange of counts into/for points,and service using points will be described in detail later.

As described above, the network system 10 manages the points given toand retained by each member based on the order track record in the pointmanager. Further, the album manager manages the storage condition of animage based on the retention counts. In the second embodiment, in viewof the above-mentioned points, remaining points retained by the membermanaged in the point manager may be converted into and exchanged forretention counts to be used in the album service. For example,irrespective of the course selected by a member on the album settingscreen of FIG. 13, a specific image may be selected as a premium image,and regarding the image management of the album, in the point manager,the remaining points of the member may be converted into and exchangedfor retention counts so that the premium image can be stored for a longperiod of time according to the number of the counts.

In this embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, one point in thepoint manager corresponds to 12 counts of the retention count.

In this embodiment, among the images in the album, an image required tobe stored for a long period of time is set as a premium image. After thenormal storage period, the storage period of the premium image isextended for a predetermined period according to the remaining points ofa member and the premium image is stored in the album for thecorresponding period.

Similarly to the example described above, in a case where a memberpresses the button displayed on the order entry channel 14 to prompt thepremium image selection screen to be displayed when images are newlyuploaded to the album or while the images are stored in the albumafterward, the network center 12 causes the order entry channel 14 todisplay thumbnail images of the album images. Among those images, when amember selects an image to be set for the premium storage, the selectedimage is set as a premium image in the album function.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating how a premium image is selected. Itshould be noted that the following description can be adopted in thecase of the premium storage course in the above-mentioned album settingscreen of FIG. 13 and in the case of a later described extended storageof the premium image using retention counts automatically given to amember when a rank of the member is raised.

In a case where a member presses the button displayed on the order entrychannel 14 to prompt the premium image selection screen to be displayedwhen images are newly uploaded to the album or while the images arestored in the album afterward, the network center 12 causes the orderentry channel 14 to display thumbnail images of the album images (S710).When a member selects an image to be set for the premium storage amongthe displayed images (S720), image information of the selected imagerecorded in the image information table is updated, and the selectedimage is set as a premium image (S730).

FIG. 12 is an example of the image information table. The table storestable information concerning each image uploaded by a member.

The image information is managed based on various pieces of informationstarting from an image code. In the table, a stored file indicates afile in which an uploaded image file is stored. A thumbnail indicates animage file in a case of displaying a list of thumbnail images. A viewimage file indicates an image file in a case of performing a slideshow.As described above, information is stored in an optimum form accordingto the intended use. Accordingly, a list can be displayed rapidly and aslideshow can be played smoothly, thereby enhancing operability by amember.

Further, the image information table contains a stored file size and apremium storage flag for each image. In the album function (i.e.,capacity management function), “1” is input to the premium storage flagof image information corresponding to the image selected in Step S720.The selected premium image is therefore determined as a premium image.

Subsequently, the network center 12 causes the order entry channel 14 todisplay a comment input screen regarding the image selected as a premiumimage, and a member is asked to input a comment (S740). As the comment,characters can be recorded so as to indicate a content of each image,such as “Family trip, summer 2003”. A member may input the comment ifnecessary.

Further, if required, the network center 12 allows a member to set anupper limit of the storage period again within a period set in the albummanager (S750). In other words, in this embodiment, the storage periodof the premium image is set to 150 days. However, regarding an imagewhich does not need to be stored for the entire period, a memberarbitrary sets the storage period again to, for example, 100 days. As aresult, it is prevented that the album capacity is unnecessarilyoccupied by images which do not need to be stored and remaining pointsof the member are wasted.

Upon completion of Steps S730 to S750, the image is set as a premiumimage. In a case of continuously selecting another premium image (“No”in Step S760), the procedure returns to Step S720 to select a premiumimage, and the above-mentioned processing is repeated.

Upon completing the selection of the premium images (“Yes” in StepS760), an image data size regarding the premium images is calculated foreach file format in the album manager (S770). This processing is apreparation for the following situation in a case of uploading a newimage to the album. That is, in a case where the capacity is overloadedand the upload is prohibited, the file format of the image data storedin the album is converted, and therefore the data size of the image isreduced to secure enough free space.

In other words, according to the processing, in uploading a new image orthe like henceforth, in a case where a file format of image data isconverted to compensate for the shortage of capacity, a free space thatcan be secured in the case of converting the format can be calculatedrapidly. In addition, by reducing the data size of a premium image asdescribed above, a member can reduce a number of counts and a number ofremaining points used to extend storage of a premium image. It should benoted that, regarding the conversion of the file format, conversion fromRAW to TIFF is most effective for securing a free space.

Referring to a flowchart of FIG. 15, a file size calculation method of apremium image for each file format is described in detail.

Upon completing the selection of the premium images (“Yes” in Step S760of FIG. 14), image information of a premium image is retrieved from theimage information table, and the file format type thereof is read out(S810) in the album manager.

In a case where the file format type is “JPEG” (“Yes” in Step S820), astored file size of the premium image is read out from the imageinformation table, and the stored file size is added to obtain a totalfile size of JPEG data (S830).

Meanwhile, in a case where the file format type is “TIFF” (“No” in StepS820 and “Yes” in Step S840), a stored file size of the premium image isread out from the image information table, and the stored file size isadded to obtain a total file size of TIFF data (S850).

Further, in a case where the file format type is “RAW” (“No” in StepS840 and “Yes” in Step S860), a stored file size of the premium image isread out from the image information table, and the stored file size isadded to obtain a total file size of RAW data (S870).

In a case where the file format type does not correspond to theabove-mentioned three types (“No” in Step S860), a stored file size ofthe premium image is read out from the image information table, and thestored file size is added to obtain a total capacity of other images(S880).

The processing as described above is repeated for all the premium images(S890).

In the example of FIG. 14, upon completion of the file size calculationfor each file format (S770), an extended storage period of a premiumimage is calculated in the album manager (S780). According to theprocessing, remaining points of a member and a future consumption amountof the retention counts are estimated based on the extended storageperiod of a premium image.

Referring to a flowchart of FIG. 16, the method for calculating theextended storage period of a premium image is described in detail.

Upon completion of the file size calculation of a premium image for eachfile format (S770 of FIG. 14), an upload date is read out from the imageinformation of the premium image stored in the image information tablein the album manager (S910).

Subsequently, a premium storage start date is recorded in the imageinformation of the premium image. In this embodiment, the storage periodof a normal image is 50 days. Thus, the day 50 days from the uploaddate, that is, 51st day, corresponds to the start date of the extendedstorage period of the premium image. The date of the 51st day is storedin the image information table as the premium storage start date (S920).

The processing as described above is repeated for all the premium images(S930).

Accordingly, by reading data out of the image information table, thedate on which the extended storage of a premium image is started and astored file size thereof can be previously calculated. As a result,remaining points to be used by the album and a future consumption amountof the retention counts can be predicted.

Upon completion of the processing up to Step S780 of FIG. 14 asdescribed above, the setting of a premium image with respect to theimage selected by the member is completed.

In this embodiment, as an example, it is assumed that, in an album inwhich the maximum storage capacity of 50 M bytes and the storage periodof 30 days are set, images of 30 M bytes are stored in the album, andimages corresponding to 20 M bytes out of the images of 30 M bytes areset as premium images.

A premium image is stored in the album as in the case of a normal imagefor the normal storage period of 30 days, unless the member deletes thepremium image. Upon exceeding 30 days, the premium image is furtherstored for an extended period corresponding to remaining points of themember.

It is assumed that, in the album, an image of 10 M bytes is uploaded tothe album as a standard image, and an image of 20 M bytes is uploaded asa premium image five days later. FIG. 17A shows a state of the album ina case where 25 days have passed since the standard image of 10 M byteshas been uploaded.

At a time point of FIG. 17A, a standard image I₁ and a premium image I₂are within a range (C₁₀) of the maximum storage capacity and the storageperiod. Thus, the standard image I₁ and the premium image I₂ are storedin the album.

Next, FIG. 17B shows a state of the album in a case where additional 11days have passed since the time point shown in FIG. 17A. At this time,regarding the standard image I₁, the storage period is already expired.Thus, the standard image I₁ is deleted from the album. Meanwhile,regarding the premium image I₂, the normal storage period is expired 10days after the time point shown in FIG. 17A, so that the extendedstorage period based on the remaining points starts from the time pointshown in FIG. 17B.

In this embodiment, it is assumed that the storage period of a premiumimage is extended from the normal period by using the remaining pointsconverted into and exchanged for counts in a unit of 50 points.

Specifically, when 30 days have passed since a premium image is uploadedas shown in FIG. 17B, remaining points of a member are confirmed in thepoint manager. In a case where 50 points or more still remain, 50 pointsare subtracted from the remaining points of the member in the pointmanager, and the number of counts corresponding to 50 points, that is,600 counts (50×12=600 counts), are used for extending storage of thepremium images.

In this embodiment, the premium image has a size of 20 M bytes. Thus, ina case of storing the image for a day, 20 counts (20 M bytes×1 day=20counts) are required. That is, in a case where 600 counts are used forextending the storage period of the premium image, the premium imagescan be stored in the album for 30 days (600/20=30 days) after the normalstorage period.

Further, at the time the extending period of 30 days expires, in a casewhere 50 points or more still remain, 50 points are used again tofurther extend the storage period for 30 days.

It should be noted that, when the normal storage period is expired orwhen the storage period extended by using the remaining points isexpired, a member may judge whether or not to use the remaining pointsto further extend the storage period. Alternatively, in the pointmanager, in the case where 50 points or more still remain, the storageperiod may be automatically extended.

As described above, by using remaining points of a member, the storageperiod of a premium image is extended. Accordingly, a member who hasordered a larger number of images can receive better service.

Further, preferably, a member can increase or decrease the number ofcounts retained depending upon the storage conditions of the images, anduse the counts for a desired service.

For example, a member may further expand the system album by purchasingretention counts. Thus, it is possible to satisfy the demand of a memberwho wants to store more images for a long period.

On the contrary, it is considered that there is a member who cannoteffectively use the storage capacity and the storage period of thesystem album corresponding to the number of the counts which the memberis given and retains, because the member stores a small number of imagesnot for a long period. For such member, the following process may beperformed. That is, retention counts corresponding to the storagecapacity and the storage period necessary for image storage are secured,and the remaining retention counts retained are converted into andexchanged for points to be used for receiving various services. Examplesof the service using points include discount of printing charge andexchange of points for commercial products. Whereby, even a member whostores a small number of images not for a long period can effectivelyuse the retention counts given.

Regarding the network system 10 as described above, in order to storemore images in the center server for a longer period of time, a customermay make a plurality of member registrations with different names tosecure album capacities for a plurality of customers, even though thecustomer is a single person. In a case where such a member receives along-term storage service of an image in the system album, an extremelylarge number of images is eventually stored for a long period of time.This situation is unfavorable.

Thus, by using the retention counts, points given to a member based onthe member's order track record is regarded as credibility of themember. Further, by giving the retention counts only to a member withhigh credibility, the member may receive better service.

In other words, regarding a service using the retention counts, otherthan by using the remaining points, in a case where the rank of a memberis raised, a number of the counts of the album may be automaticallyincreased and the counts may be used to expand the storage capacity ofthe album or extend the storage period of premium images. A member canreceive those services irrespective of the course selected by the memberin the album setting screen of FIG. 13.

In other words, total points managed in the point manager may beconsidered as credibility of a member, and a member having total pointsof a predetermined number or more may be allowed to store a specificimage as a premium image for a long period of time in the system album.

In this embodiment, as an example, it is assumed that, in the album of amember, the maximum storage capacity of 50 M bytes and the storageperiod of 30 days are initially set. Further, in the album, imagescorresponding to 20 M bytes are stored as premium images. Further, rankC is set to the member.

In this case, explanation will be made of a case where the memberaccumulates total points through ordering to be raised to rank B.

In FIG. 18, C₁₁ shows that, in the current album of the member, themaximum storage capacity of 50 M bytes, the storage period of 30 days,and the use of 1500 counts (50 M bytes×30 days) are set.

In a case where the member of rank C increases total points throughordering to be raised to rank B, the album manager adds, for example,900 counts to 1500 counts at the time of the initial setting to increasethe count of the album to 2400 counts.

Subsequently, the storage capacity and the storage period correspondingto the number of the counts are calculated. Then, the album is expandedaccording to the number of the increased counts. For example, the albumis expanded as indicated by C₁₂ of FIG. 18. That is, the upper limit ofthe storage capacity is expanded by 10 M bytes to be 60 M bytes, and thestorage period is extended by 10 days to be 40 days. In this case, theproduct of the numbers of M bytes and the number of days is 2400 (60 Mbytes×40 days). This means that the album setting corresponds to 2400counts.

It should be noted that the expansion of the album using the counts canbe arbitrarily set by a member. Other than the example described above,any setting such as a setting of 40 M bytes×60 days or a setting of 80 Mbytes×30 days is acceptable as long as the counts of the album is 2400.

Further, in this embodiment, if required by a member, 900 counts (i.e.,a portion E represented by the oblique lines of FIG. 18) added due tothe raise of the rank may be used to extend storage of a premium image.

That is, in the album as described above, in a case where the rank of amember having a premium image is raised, counts corresponding to a freespace which is not used to store an image (900 counts at maximum in thisembodiment) out of the counts added due to the raise of the rank can beallocated to the storage period of a premium image.

In this embodiment, a premium image I₃ has a size of 20 M bytes. Thus,by allocating the counts corresponding to the free space to theextension of the storage period of a premium image, the extending periodof 45 days (900 counts/20 M bytes=45 days) can be secured at maximum.Accordingly, in this case, the premium image is stored in the album foradditional 45 days after the predetermined storage period of 30 days.

Further, a member may arbitrarily decide how to use the countscorresponding to the free space. For example, in a case where there are900 counts corresponding to the free space, 300 counts of those countsare used for extending storage of a premium image to obtain theextending period of 15 days (300 counts/20 M bytes=15 days), and theremaining 600 counts are allocated to the expansion of the maximumstorage capacity of the album to expand the maximum storage capacity by20 M bytes (600 counts/30 days=20 M bytes). As described above, the useof the counts can be desirably set according to each member.

As described above, by using the retention counts given at the time ofraise of a rank of a member, the storage period of a premium image isextended. Accordingly, a member of a higher rank, that is, a member witha larger number of orders in the order track record can receive betterservice.

In this embodiment, images stored in the album are classified into anormal image and a premium image. Then, the remaining points or thecounts given due to the raise of the rank are used to extend storageperiod of the premium image alone. Accordingly, a member can allocatethe points or the counts only to an image which is desired to be storedfor a long period of time. Thus, the use of the points or the countspossessed by the member is minimized, and the member can receive betterservice.

Further, by using the points given based on the order track record andthe retention counts given based on credibility of a member, a premiumstorage service for realizing a further longer storage period isprovided. With this service, a capacity of the center server can beprovided for a long period of time to a member with a larger number oforders in the order track record, that is, a member with highercredibility.

In addition, a customer who makes a plurality of member registrations tofalsely secure a large amount of an album capacity has a small number oforders in the order track record. Therefore, a rank of the customer isnot raised, and remaining points of the customer never reach thepredetermined number. Thus, such a customer cannot receive the serviceof the premium storage course. As a result, it is possible to preventthe capacity of the center server from being occupied by a specificcustomer.

As is apparent from the above description, according to the secondembodiment of the image network system using the center server of thepresent invention, in a case where a member sets a maximum storagecapacity and a storage period of the system album, the order entrychannel 14 is caused to display a plurality of courses corresponding toconstant retention counts as options. Then, a member is allowed toselect a desired course. As a result, without placing a heavy load onthe center server, the stable center server which can be readily managedcan be provided. Further, a member can select a course suitable for usein setting the system album according to the member's usage regardlessof gain and loss. Therefore, a member can use the album conveniently.

Further, the service which enables a longer storage period with respectto specific images based on the order track record of a member and thecredibility of a member is provided. With this service, a largercapacity of the album can be provided to a member with a larger numberof orders in the order track record. Simultaneously, it is possible toprevent the capacity from being occupied more than necessary by acustomer who makes a plurality of member registrations to falsely securean album capacity.

In this embodiment, the center server is provided in the network center,however, the present invention is not limited thereto. A part other thanthe network center, such as the retailer system and the lab system, mayinclude the center server.

Subsequently, a third embodiment of an image network system which usesthe center server of the present invention will be described in detail.

In the third embodiment, among images stored in the system album in thenetwork center, data sizes of only the unordered images are summed up,and the data sizes of the images in the system album are managed basedon whether or not the obtained data sizes of the unordered imagesexceeds the maximum storage capacity to notify a transmittable data sizeto a member. The member performs ordering, thereby enabling a largernumber of images to be uploaded to the network center. As a result, alarger number of orders are placed through the network system.

Further, in a case where the capacity is overloaded in uploading animage, a countermeasure for transmitting an image is presented to amember. Accordingly, the member is allowed to upload a desired imagesmoothly. Regarding all the images stored in the album, includingunordered images, a countermeasure for transmission of an image ispresented to a member.

FIG. 19 is a conceptual diagram showing a system configuration of theimage network system of the third embodiment which uses the centerserver of the present invention.

It should be noted that a configuration of a network system 110 shown inFIG. 19 is similar to that of the network system 10 of FIG. 1 exceptthat the network system 110 shown in FIG. 19 does not include the pointmanager in the back end. Therefore, a detailed description thereof willbe omitted, and a characteristic point of the network system 110 will bedescribed hereinafter.

In this embodiment, in an order entry channel 114, each uploaded imageis assigned with an order identifier for identifying if the uploadedimage is an ordered image which has been ordered before, or an unorderedimage which has not been ordered, and is stored in the system album. Ina case where an unordered image is ordered, an order identifier of theimage is changed to an identifier indicating an ordered image in thenetwork center 112.

In this embodiment, the album function includes a capacity managementfunction. In the capacity management function, the capacity of thesystem album for each member is managed based only on the data size ofan image (i.e., unordered image) which has not been ordered for printand the like even once.

In a case where an image is requested from the order entry channel 114to be uploaded, a value of the total data size of unordered images inthe system album and a total value of the data size of images which arerequested to be uploaded are calculated based on data stored in theimage information table or the order identifier in the capacitymanagement function. Further, the total values are added. The obtainedvalue is subtracted from the capacity (i.e., maximum storage capacity)of the system album for one member, thereby calculating the free spaceof the system album. In a case where a member has requested to upload animage, but the free capacity of the system album is short, a capacityoverflow processing screen is displayed. Alternatively, the albumfunction causes the order entry channel 114 to display an unorderedimage in the system album. This processing will be described in detaillater.

Hereinafter, a data size management method of a storage image accordingto the third embodiment of the present invention will be described indetail.

As described above, the album function of the network center 112 has afunction for storing images in the system album for each member. Thesystem album is set in advance with the maximum storage capacity whichindicates an upper limit value of the storage capacity. A member canupload an image to the network center 112 freely within the range of themaximum storage capacity. It should be noted that, as described above,the service in which an image is stored in the system album is onlyprovided to members.

Whether or not the data size of an image stored in the system albumexceeds the maximum storage capacity is judged based on the value of thetotal file size of unordered images among the images stored in thesystem album.

As described above, the network center 112 has the table (i.e., imageinformation table) for managing the image information including thestored file size and the latest order date for each image. The albumfunction (i.e., capacity management function) accordingly obtains a datasize of each image and judges whether or not the image is an unorderedimage. The album function (i.e., capacity management function) then addsstored file sizes of only the unordered images in the system album,whereby the total value can be calculated.

By referring to the above-mentioned latest order date and stored filesize information in the image information table, whether or not eachimage is an unordered image is judged and the data size of each image isobtained.

FIG. 20 shows an example of the image information table according to thethird embodiment. It should be noted that the configuration of the imageinformation table of FIG. 20 is similar to that of the image informationtable of FIG. 12, except that the image information table of FIG. 20does not include the premium storage flag and the premium storage startdate. Therefore, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The album function reads out the latest order date in the imageinformation table for each image of a member. In a case where dateinformation is not recorded in the latest order date, the image isrecognized as an unordered image. Meanwhile, in a case of an imagehaving date information in the latest order date, the image isrecognized as an ordered image. Further, regarding the image recognizedas an unordered image, file size information of a stored file size isread out. Stored file sizes read out are summed up so as to obtain avalue of the total stored file size of the unordered images in thesystem album.

Further, as described above, an image stored in the system album isgiven with an order identifier for identifying whether the stored imageis an ordered image and an unordered image. Accordingly, the value ofthe total stored file size of only the unordered images in the systemalbum may alternatively be calculated in the following manner. That is,an unordered image is distinguished by the order identifier, and astored file size of the distinguished image is read out from the imageinformation table.

The album function adds the total value of the stored file size of onlythe unordered images in the system album and a file size of image datato be uploaded. In a case where the obtained value does not exceed themaximum storage capacity, the image is uploaded.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing starting from arequest of uploading by a member to performing the uploading.

A member signs in to the network center 112 via the order entry channel114. Then, the member requests to upload an image by using the albumfunction and the order web (S1010). Then, the album function obtainsinformation retained in the system album of the member such as a latestorder date and a stored file size of each image by using the imageinformation table (S1020).

By determining an image with no latest order date recorded as anunordered image or by determining the image as an unordered image by theorder identifier in the album function, based on the obtainedinformation, unordered images are identified, stored file sizes ofrespective unordered images are added, and the sum of the file sizes ofthe respective unordered images in the system album is calculated. Then,the album function subtracts the calculated sum of the file sizes of theunordered images from the maximum storage capacity of images to bestored in the system album to obtain the free space (S1030). The maximumstorage capacity is allocated for each member and is set in advance inthe album manager. The free space indicates the upper limit value of thedata size of an image which can be newly uploaded to the system album bythe member.

In the case where the free space is calculated, the album functioncauses the order entry channel 114 to display a screen for notifying thefree space as shown in FIG. 22A. Then, the member is prompted to selectwhether or not to upload the image (S1040).

In the screen of FIG. 22A, when a member selects the “upload” button(S1050), a screen for selecting an upload image as shown in FIG. 22B isdisplayed on the order entry channel 114 (S1060).

In the screen of FIG. 22B, a list of images that have been transmittedby the member using the order entry channel 114 or those that have beensaved in the order entry channel 114 is displayed as thumbnail images onthe left-hand side thereof. Further, the album function obtainsinformation such as a stored file size of the displayed image. Fromthose thumbnail images, the member uses a mouse, keyboard, or the liketo select an image to be uploaded to the system album.

Every time an image is selected, the album function adds the stored filesize of the selected image to the sum of the file size of all theunordered images in the system album calculated in Step S1030 (S1070).

In addition, the value obtained through the addition and the maximumstorage capacity of the system album are compared (S1080). In the casewhere the maximum storage capacity is larger than the value obtainedthrough the addition, the selected image is displayed on the right-handside of the screen shown in FIG. 22B as an upload candidate image. Asdescribed above, the member can select an image within the range of themaximum storage capacity. Upon completion of the selection (S1100), thealbum function uploads the image selected as the upload candidate imageto the system album (S1110).

On the other hand, when the maximum storage capacity is smaller than thevalue obtained through the addition as a result of comparison in StepS1080, the selected image cannot be uploaded because of insufficientfree space left in the system album. In this case, the order entrychannel 114 notifies the member of the shortage of the free space byalarm sound or by displaying an alarm message, and displays a selectionscreen of the capacity overflow processing shown in FIG. 23A (S1090). Itshould be noted that an alarming method is not limited to thosedescribed above.

The capacity overflow processing refers to processing that is carriedout when the free space of the system album is short with respect to thefile size of the image which the member wishes to be uploaded. In thisembodiment, six types of processing of “reselection of an image to beuploaded”, “ordering of an unordered image in the album”, “deletion ofthe unordered image in the album”, “reduction in image size of theunordered image in the album”, “compression of the unordered image inthe album”, and “change of format of the unordered image” are displayedso that the member can select the desired processing.

When the member selects the “reselection of an image to be uploaded”,the album function displays a screen for prompting the member toreselect an image from the upload candidate images as shown in FIG. 22Bon the order entry channel 114. The member then sets the image selectedas the upload candidate image in the screen back to a non-selected stateby using a mouse, keyboard, or the like to delete the selected image,whereby selection is made again in a range that the free space does notbecome short.

When the member selects the “ordering of an unordered image in thealbum”, the order web obtains every unordered image from the systemalbum of the member, and displays the list of unordered images on theleft-hand side of the display panel of the order entry channel 114 asthumbnail images so as to display a screen for prompting the member toselect an image for order on the order entry channel 114 as shown inFIG. 23B.

The member selects the image for order from the displayed unorderedimages by the same method as that in the screen shown in FIG. 22B. Theselected unordered images, information thereof, etc. are transmitted tothe order manager. The order manager carries out the order processingfor the selected unordered image. At this time, the album functionstores the latest order date of the image that has been subjected to theorder processing, whereby the image is set as an ordered image.

Upon completion of the order processing, the album function again sumsup the stored file sizes of all the unordered images in the system albumof the member, to thereby recalculate the free space. Further, thescreen shown in FIG. 22B is displayed again to prompt the member toselect the upload image. Accordingly, the member can resume theselection of the upload image as in Step S1060, based on therecalculated stored file size of the unordered images.

When the member selects the “deletion of the unordered image in thealbum”, the album function obtains all the unordered images of themember, causes the order entry channel 114 to display the list ofunordered images on the left-hand side of the display panel as thumbnailimages so as to display a screen for prompting the member to select animage to be deleted on the order entry channel 114 (FIG. 23B). From thedisplayed unordered images, the member selects the image to be deletedby the same method as in the screen shown in FIG. 22B. The selectedunordered image is deleted from the system album by the album function.

Upon completing the deletion of the image, the album function again sumsup the stored file sizes of all the unordered images in the system albumof the member to thereby recalculate the free space. Further, the albumfunction displays the screen shown in FIG. 22B again to prompt themember to select the upload image. Accordingly, the member can resumethe selection of the upload image as in Step S1060 based on therecalculated stored file size of the unordered images.

When the member selects the “reduction of an image size of the unorderedimage in the album”, the album function obtains all the unordered imagesof the member, causes the order entry channel 114 to display the list ofunordered images on the left-hand side of the display panel as thumbnailimages so as to display a screen for prompting the member to select animage that is to be reduced in image size on the order entry channel 114(FIG. 23B). From the displayed unordered images, the member selects theimage that is to be reduced in image size by the same method as in thescreen shown in FIG. 22B. The selected unordered image is reduced inimage size by the album function. Accordingly, the stored file size ofthe image is also reduced along with the above-mentioned processing.

It should be noted that the reduction of the image size may be carriedout in accordance with the size that is set in advance by the albumfunction, or may be carried out by allowing the member to select orinput the image file size after the reduction of the image size on theorder entry channel 114. Further, a known method such as thinning may beemployed as the reduction method.

Upon completing the reduction of the image file size, the album functionagain sums up the stored file size of all the unordered images in thesystem album of the member, to thereby recalculate the free space.Further, the screen shown in FIG. 22B is displayed again to prompt themember to select the upload image. Accordingly, the member can resumethe selection of the upload image as in Step S1060 based on therecalculated stored file size of the unordered images.

When the member selects the “compression of the unordered image in thealbum”, the album function obtains all the unordered images of themember, causes the order entry channel 114 to display the list ofunordered images on the left-hand side of the display panel as thumbnailimages so as to display a screen for prompting the member to select theimage to be compressed on the order entry channel 114 (FIG. 23B). Fromthe displayed unordered images, the member selects the image to becompressed by the same method as in the screen shown in FIG. 22B. Theselected unordered image is compressed by the album function.Accordingly, the stored file size of the image is reduced along with theabove-mentioned processing.

It should be noted that the compression of the image file size may becarried out in accordance with the value set in advance by the albumfunction, or may be carried out by allowing the member to select orinput a compression format, a compression method, or the like in theorder entry channel 114. Further, a known method may be employed for thecompression.

Upon completing the compression of the image, the album function againsums up the stored file sizes of all the unordered images in the systemalbum of the member, to thereby recalculate the free space. Further, thescreen shown in FIG. 22B is displayed again to prompt the member toselect an upload image. Accordingly, the member can resume the selectionof the upload image as in Step S1060 based on the recalculated storedfile size of the unordered images.

When the member selects the “change of format of the unordered image”,the album function obtains all the unordered images of the member,causes the order entry channel 114 to display the list of unorderedimages on the left-hand side of the display panel as thumbnail images soas to display a screen for prompting the member to select the imagewhose format is to be changed on the order entry channel 114 (FIG. 23B).From the displayed unordered images, the member selects the image whoseformat is to be changed by the same method as in the screen shown inFIG. 22B. The format of the selected unordered image is changed by thealbum function. Thus, the stored file size of the image is reduced alongwith the above-mentioned processing.

Information of the image information table is used in changing theformat. The album function reads out the type of the file format in theimage information table with respect to the selected unordered image.When the format is, for example, RAW data, the data format is thenconverted into a different format such as JPEG data. Color informationof the image data of the RAW data corresponds to 24 bits whereas that ofthe image data of the JPEG data corresponds to 8 bits. Thus, the storedfile size of the unordered image is reduced by converting the image ofthe RAW data into JPEG data.

It should be noted that the changing of the format may be carried out byautomatically judging a format in which the stored file size can bereduced in comparison with the current format for each image in thealbum function etc., or in accordance with the format which is selectedor input by the member through the order entry channel 114. Further, aknown method may be employed for the method of changing the format.

Upon completing the format change of the image, the album function againsums up the stored file sizes of all the unordered images in the systemalbum of the member, to thereby recalculate the free space. Further, thescreen shown in FIG. 22B is displayed again to prompt the member toselect an upload image. Accordingly, the member can resume the selectionof the upload image as in Step S1060 based on the recalculated storedfile size of the unordered images.

In the above-mentioned capacity overflow processing, among the unorderedimages which are displayed as thumbnail images, there may be an imagethat has already been subjected to the processing of the image sizereduction, the compression, or the format change in the previouscapacity overflow processing. Thus, with respect to the image that hasalready been subjected to the processing of the image size reduction,the compression, or the format change, it is preferable that theprocessing content of the image be displayed in such a manner that themember can recognize the content.

In view of the above, a processing identifier is assigned to the imagethat has already been subjected to the processing of the image sizereduction, the compression, or the format change so that the processedimage can be identified, for example.

In displaying the thumbnail image, the album function reads theprocessing identifier of the displayed unordered image. When the imagehas already been subjected to the processing of the image size thereduction, the compression, or the format change, the album functiondisplays the processing content that has been applied to the image inrecognizable forms for the member, such as in characters or marks,together with the thumbnail image.

Alternatively, information on the processing content of each image maybe held in the image information table in the capacity overflowprocessing, so that the album function can display the processingcontent by identifying the processed image based on the information heldin the image information table.

It should be noted that in carrying out the capacity overflowprocessing, it is preferable that the upload candidate images which havebeen selected up to that moment on the screen shown in FIG. 22B bestored in the order entry channel 114 or the like prior to the start ofthe processing, and in resuming the selection of the upload image afterthe capacity overflow processing and after returning to the screen shownin FIG. 22B, the stored image be displayed as the upload candidateimage. Accordingly, the member can resume the selection of the imagefrom the same state as in the selection before carrying out the capacityoverflow processing.

It should be noted that in the third embodiment, the free space ischecked every time an image to be uploaded is selected by the member,and the capacity overflow processing is carried out if required.However, the present invention is not limited thereto and the free spacemay be checked after all the images to be uploaded have been selected bythe member, and the capacity overflow processing may be carried outcorresponding thereto.

Further, in carrying out the capacity overflow processing after themember has selected all the images to be uploaded, the unordered imagesmay be displayed on the order entry channel 114 in theascending/descending order of file sizes in the selection screen of theunordered image shown in FIG. 23B. Accordingly, for example, in the casewhere the member wishes to upload a large number of images, the membercan preferentially select unordered images of large file sizes toincrease the free space of the album, which serves to assist theselection of an image.

Alternatively, the unordered images may be displayed on the order entrychannel 114 in the order of dates at which the images are uploaded tothe system album. With this, images with early dates can bepreferentially selected.

Further, in this embodiment, the stored file size of the image selectedby the member is obtained by the album function and the sum of thestored file size of images selected by the album function is calculated,to thereby compare the sum and the maximum storage capacity of thesystem album, or to calculate the free space. However, the presentinvention is not limited thereto and the order entry channel 114, theretailer system 118, the lab system 116, or the like may obtainnecessary information such as file sizes to calculate the sum of thestored file size of the selected images. Further, the comparison betweenthe sum of the stored file size of the selected images and the maximumstorage capacity of the system album or the calculation of the freespace can be carried out in the order entry channel 114 by transmittingthe maximum storage capacity of the system album to the order entrychannel 114 from the network center 112.

In addition, the display of the free space of the system album on theorder entry channel 114 in Step S1040 of FIG. 21 is not carried out onlyat the time of receiving an upload request, but may be calculated anddisplayed every time the member signs in.

In the third embodiment as described above, the capacity of the systemalbum is managed in consideration of the total file size of only theunordered images stored in the system album. However, the presentinvention is not limited thereto and the capacity of the system albummay be managed in consideration of the total file size of all the imagesstored in the system album, including the ordered image.

In the case of managing the capacity of the system album considering thetotal file size of all the images, when the free space becomes short inthe system album, the capacity overflow processing is carried out bysubstantially the same construction and method as in the embodimentconsidering the total file size of only the unordered images asdescribed above.

When considering the total file size of all the images, the albumfunction does not carry out the identification of the unordered image bythe order identifier, and sums up the file sizes of all the imagesstored in the system album. When the value obtained by adding the sumand the file size of the image data to be uploaded does not exceed themaximum storage capacity, the image is uploaded. When the value exceedsthe maximum storage capacity, the capacity overflow processing iscarried out.

In the case of carrying out the capacity overflow processing, the orderentry channel 114 displays the five types of processing of “reselectionof an image to be uploaded”, “deletion of the image in the album”,“reduction in image size of the image in the album”, “compression of theimage in the album”, and “change of format of the image”, and promptsthe member to select the desired processing. Those types of processingcan be carried out for all the images in the system album irrespectiveof whether the image is an ordered image or an unordered image.

It is only necessary that the processing for respective choices becarried out in the same manner as in the embodiment considering the filesize of only the unordered image as described above, irrespective ofwhether the image is an ordered image or an unordered image.

As described above, also by managing the capacity of the system albumconsidering the total file size of all the images, the member can selectand execute the countermeasure on the spot in the case of exceeding themaximum storage capacity of the album, whereby the desired image can bestored in the album smoothly.

As is apparent from the description above, according to the thirdembodiment of the present invention, the file sizes of only theunordered images are summed up among the images stored in the systemalbum of the network center 112, and the file sizes of the images in thesystem album are managed based on whether the sum exceeds the maximumstorage capacity or not. Further, the member is notified of thetransmittable file size. Placement of an order allows the member toupload more images to the network center 112. Thus, the order in thenetwork system 110 is promoted.

Further, in uploading the image in the network center 112, when thecapacity is overloaded, the member can upload the desired image smoothlysince the countermeasure for transmitting the image is presented to themember and the member can select and execute the countermeasure on thespot. Accordingly, the image can be stored in the album smoothly in thedesired manner of the member.

In addition, the countermeasure for transmitting the image can bepresented to the member not only with respect to the unordered image butalso with respect to all the images stored in the album, whereby themember can store the desired image in the album smoothly even in thecase of exceeding the maximum storage capacity.

As described above, the center server of the image network systemaccording to the present invention has been described in detail.However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments above,and may of course be variously changed or modified within the range thatdoes not depart from the gist of the present invention.

The above described first to third embodiments may be performed eitheralone or in any combination of two or three of them appropriately. Forexample, in the first embodiment, the album setting may be madeaccording to the storage condition based on the retention counts in thesecond embodiment, and further, the overflow processing of the thirdembodiment may be performed in the case of a capacity shortage of analbum. Similarly, it is possible to perform the first and the secondembodiments, the first and the third embodiments, or the second and thethird embodiments, in combination.

What is claimed is:
 1. A server for an image network system, connectinga user terminal via a communication network, for receiving image data ofone or more images to be uploaded from the user terminal via thecommunication network, comprising: an image storage unit which storesthe received image data of the one or more images uploaded from the userterminal via the communication network; an image management unit whichmanages for each user the image data received from the user terminal;and a capacity management unit which obtains for each user a total valueof a storage capacity of the image data stored by the image storageunit, and manages whether or not the total value is within such a rangeas not to exceed a predetermined upper limit value of the storagecapacity for each user, wherein in a case where the capacity managementunit judges that the total value for an user exceeds the predeterminedupper limit value for the user, the capacity management unit notifiesthe user terminal of the user and causes the user terminal of the userto display thereon one or more countermeasures for preventing the totalvalue for the user from exceeding the predetermined upper limit valuefor the user, wherein before the one or more countermeasures are carriedout, one or more images which have been selected up for uploading andare not stored by the image storage unit because the total value exceedsthe predetermined upper limit value are stored as one or more uploadcandidate images in the user terminal or the server, after the one ormore countermeasures have been carried out, the one or more uploadcandidate images stored in the user terminal or the server are displayedon the user terminal to cause the user to select up again one or moreimages for uploading in the one or more upload candidate images.
 2. Theserver according to claim 1, wherein the image storage unit stores theimage data of the uploaded one or more images as an album managed foreach user by the image management unit, the capacity management unitcauses the user terminal of the user to display thereon as the one ormore countermeasures at least one of reselection of an image to beuploaded, deletion of the image in the album, reduction in image size ofthe image in the album, compression of the image in the album, andchange of format of the image.
 3. The server according to claim 1,wherein one or more upload candidate images to be selected up foruploading are displayed as one or more thumbnail images on the userterminal for selecting of the user in case that the one or more imagesof the user are uploaded from the user terminal to the server.
 4. Theserver according to claim 1, wherein, every time an image to be uploadedis selected by the user terminal, the capacity management unitcalculates a capacity of image data of the selected image, adds thecapacity of image data of the selected image to the total value of thecapacity of the image data of the images which have been already storedin the image storage unit to obtain an added total value, and judgeswhether or not the added total value exceeds the predetermined upperlimit value of the storage capacity for each user.
 5. The serveraccording to claim 1, wherein, when all images to be uploaded have beenselected by the user terminal, the capacity management unit calculates acapacities of image data of the selected all images, adds the capacitiesof image data of the selected all images to the total value of thecapacity of the image data of the images which have been already storedin the image storage unit to obtain an added total value, and judgeswhether or not the added total value exceeds the predetermined upperlimit value of the storage capacity for each user.
 6. The serveraccording to claim 1, further comprising: a memberregistration/authentication unit which registers members, changesregistered member information, and authenticates registered members; adigital album unit which uploads an image through the user terminal,stores images of each member as a digital album in the image storageunit, enables the member to display one or more album images in the owndigital album through the user terminal to enable the member to view theone or more album images, and enables the member to rotate the displayedone or more album images or view them in a slide show; and a share boxunit which enables the member to publicly offer the one or more albumimages in the own digital album to a third party.
 7. An image networksystem comprising: the server according to claim 1; and user terminals,each transmitting image data of one or more images for uploading to theserver.
 8. A method of storing and managing image data, comprising:receiving image data of one or more images to be uploaded from a userterminal via a communication network with a server for an image networksystem connecting the user terminal via a communication network; storingthe received image data of the one or more images uploaded from the userterminal via the communication network with the server; managing foreach user the image data received from the user terminal with theserver; obtaining for each user a total value of a storage capacity ofthe image data stored by the image storage unit with the server;managing whether or not the total value is within such a range as not toexceed a predetermined upper limit value of the storage capacity foreach user with the server; and in a case where the capacity managementunit judges that the total value for an user exceeds the predeterminedupper limit value for the user, notifying the user terminal of the userwith the server and causing the user terminal of the user with theserver to display thereon one or more countermeasures for preventing thetotal value for the user from exceeding the predetermined upper limitvalue for the user, wherein before the one or more countermeasures arecarried out, storing one or more images which have been selected up foruploading and are not stored by the image storage unit because the totalvalue exceeds the predetermined upper limit value as one or more uploadcandidate images in the user terminal or the server, and, after the oneor more countermeasures have been carried out, displaying the one ormore upload candidate images stored in the user terminal or the serveron the user terminal to cause the user to select up again one or moreimages for uploading in the one or more upload candidate images.